Pre-conference – Masterclass on the Spanish and Catalan health systems
Masterclass on the Spanish and Catalan health systems
The Masterclass on the Spanish and Catalan Health Systems provides a comprehensive analysis of the history, structure, organisation, management, and governance of both systems. It addresses key aspects such as the composition of a mixed and stable network of providers delivering publicly funded services; the instruments used for the planning and contracting of these services within the network; the payment mechanisms and schemes currently in place; and the coordination across different levels of care to ensure continuity and optimise the use of resources, among other topics.
The session will also offer a forum for participants to exchange knowledge and experiences, with the aim of identifying good practices that may be transferable to other contexts.
The course is offered by La Unió, an association of health and social care entities with more than 50 years of experience. La Unió represents approximately 65% of the Catalan public health system and brings together over 70,000 professionals, with a presence throughout Catalonia and across all areas of the healthcare sector, including primary care, hospitals, social care, mental health, rehabilitation, and elderly care.
The workshop aims to:
- Analyse the governance and organisational models of the Spanish and Catalan health Systems.
- Examine the functioning of a mixed network of healthcare providers, including public and private, both for-profit and non-profit organisations, working in a coordinated manner under the framework of public funding.
- Assess financing and payment mechanisms aimed at increasing quality and efficiency across different levels of care.
- Promote critical reflection and knowledge exchange on transferable best practices.
Target group
Professionals responsible for the planning and management of health and social services, as well as professionals working in health management or public policy.
Expected outcomes
By the end of the workshop, participants will:
- Have gained knowledge of the key governance and organisational features of the Spanish and Catalan health systems, including their historical development and institutional arrangements.
- Be able to describe how the delivery of health services is organised in Catalonia and critically assess the role of a mixed network of providers.
- Understand the different financing and payment mechanisms and their impact on efficiency, quality, and integration across levels of care.
- Be able to identify transferable best practices, drawing on peer exchange and comparative analysis.
Practical information
It is a 90-minute session that will take place at the premises of La Unió, in a central location in Barcelona, easily accessible on foot and by public transportation.
The session will be offered twice on Tuesday, 9 June, with both morning and afternoon sessions available.
- Morning session: 10-11.30
- Afternoon session: 15.30-17.00
Each session has a maximum capacity of 30 participants, and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fee
The fee for participating in the masterclass is
- €50 (+VAT) for EHMA Members
- €60 (+VAT) for non-EHMA Members
Registration
Registrations are open until 8 May 2026.
Faculty
Dr Rosa Vidal, Economic Affairs Director, La Unió, Spain
Dr Rosa Vidal is Economic Affairs Director at La Unió. She is a health economist with over 19 years of experience. She has previous experience at the Catalan Health Service (CatSalut) spanning three distinct stages: an initial period focused on healthcare financing and expenditure within the economic area; a second stage dedicated to operational planning, purchasing, and evaluation of healthcare services within the care delivery area; and a final stage leading payment systems and economic evaluation within the economic and investment area.
Mr Marc Gibert, Technical Coordinator, La Unió, Spain
Mr Marc Gibert is Technical Coordinator at Fundació Unió. He is a health economist with over 12 years of experience in strategic consulting, innovation, and organisational transformation projects. He has primarily worked with public administrations and multilateral organisations in Europe and Latin America, in areas such as quality improvement, costing exercises and expenditure efficiency analysis, auditing and evaluation of primary care strategies, strategic planning, design of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and implementation of IT solutions, among others.
This initiative is organised in collaboration with La Unió.