BTN News: Spain has made an important change in its healthcare system. The Spanish Official State Gazette (BOE) has announced the new Emergency Medicine Specialty through Royal Decree 610/2024. This long-needed decision meets a historic demand from healthcare workers and users of the National Health System (SNS). It fixes problems that have troubled the system for years. People across Spain are happy about this news. But the road to this success was hard and complicated, with many legal and administrative problems.
The Long Road to Recognizing the Emergency Medicine Specialty in Spain
Creating the Emergency Medicine Specialty is a big step to match Spain’s medical training with the European model. This change makes it easier for doctors to work in other European Union (EU) countries. It also ends the unfair treatment of Spanish emergency doctors compared to their European colleagues. The Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES) led this effort with strong will and vision. Their work led to a big win for the SNS.
Overcoming Many Legal and Administrative Challenges to Make Emergency Medicine a Specialty
Making this new specialty official was very challenging. I saw many problems and mistakes that needed fixing while working on the legal side. For example, the first setup of Emergency Medicine in Royal Decree 639/2014 was wrong and needed correction. Also, passing general rules like Royal Decree 589/2022, which explains how to create specialist titles, was a key step.
Over the years, many efforts were made to push this cause forward. Propositions were presented in 2007, 2012, 2017, and 2021. Many questions were asked to government officials about keeping their promises. Parliamentary sessions were held to show the importance of the issue. Actions were also presented to the Ombudsman and the Directorate-General for the Internal Market of the European Commission.
Taking Part in the Process to Make Emergency Medicine an Official Specialty
The process involved active involvement in all steps of the rules for Royal Decrees 639/2014, 589/2022, and 610/2024. Sometimes, the State Council had to review these rules twice. Two court cases led to the Supreme Court canceling Royal Decree 639/2014. The Court was asked to regulate the specialty to end the violation of basic rights.
The use of Law 39/2015 on common administrative procedures was also important. This law gives a simple process with clear and easy rules (articles 127 to 133). But changing legal rules into the real political, administrative, and institutional world can be very frustrating and hard, as shown in the long process of creating the Emergency Medicine Specialty.
Important Lessons Learned from the Long Process of Creating the Emergency Medicine Specialty
Several important lessons came from this journey. First, the administration is not always a reliable partner, as it faces many pressures and problems. Second, political issues often take over other priorities, sometimes ignoring the public interest. Even when agreeing to make rules, the administration may delay taking the needed actions, extending harmful situations. Third, while courts can solve specific cases, they do not always fix the main problem, which needs complete regulatory solutions.
A key lesson is the essential role of professional groups, like SEMES, in a democratic society. These groups act as important partners with public authorities, helping and promoting good and socially helpful rules. Their persistence, despite problems, delays, unkept promises, government changes, and administrative turnover, was crucial in achieving the recognition of Emergency Medicine as a specialty.
Why Emergency Medicine is Important for the Healthcare System and People’s Well-Being
Healthcare is closely tied to people’s well-being. Having skilled, well-trained, and effective medical workers with clear career paths is very important. Recognizing Emergency Medicine as a specialty shows the importance of investing in specialized medical education and making sure healthcare workers can provide the best care.
In conclusion, the creation of the Emergency Medicine Specialty is a great achievement for Spanish healthcare. It represents the end of years of effort, persistence, and advocacy. As the saying goes, “all’s well that ends well,” and this success is indeed a reason to celebrate. It is a big step forward in improving the quality and efficiency of Spain’s healthcare system, benefiting both professionals and patients.
