Even though Spanish citizens went to the polls this summer, Spain still lacks a government. If the main political parties cannot form a coalition, a new general election may be called soon. To avoid this outcome, negotiations are underway between the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and Sumar – itself a coalition of 15 smaller left-leaning parties –to form a central government coalition. Sumar continues to push on a range of health policy reform proposals and initiatives, and PSOE, keen to clinch a deal, have shown willingness to compromise. This culminated on 24 October 2023, with a formal pact detailing the agreed policy proposals for the PSOE-Sumar coalition.

As this leftwing coalition remains the most likely scenario, Marwood has taken a deeper look at the key health policy proposals contained in the October Pact. As many Spanish Autonomous Communities (ACs) have themselves pointed out, the majority of these proposals would be hugely expensive to implement, and in some cases are outside of the central government’s remit. Investors considering healthcare assets in Spain will benefit from understanding which health policies may be pursued in the next legislature. Even if the ultimate jurisdiction and decision-making power over these remains with ACs, a PSOE-Sumar coalition could push elements within the Pact, marking the direction of travel for Spanish health policy over the next 4 years.