Last March, the B.O.E. published in the Spanish Official State Gazette the Royal Decree 239/2026 of 25 March, amending Regulation (EC) No Royal Decree 1277/2003 of 10 October 2003.
This regulatory update introduces measures aimed at enhancing patient safety, ensuring that the health care is provided exclusively by professionals with the appropriate formal qualifications and competences.
The Royal Decree 1277/2003, of 10 October, establishing the general bases for the authorisation of health centres, services and establishments. is a regulation, drawn up by the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs, which regulates the operating requirements and management of healthcare establishments. It pursues 3 main objectives:
- a) To regulate the general bases of the procedure for the authorisation of health centres, services and establishments. by the autonomous communities.
- b) Establish a common classification, designation and definition for all health centres, services and establishments., The creation of a general register is a prerequisite for the creation of a general register.
- c) Establishing the General Catalogue and Register of health centres, services and establishments..
The Royal Decree 239/2026, of 25 March, amending Royal Decree 1277/2003, of 10 October, establishing the general bases for the authorisation of health centres, services and establishments., was published last March and essentially proposes a number of changes to the 2003 text, aimed at strengthening patient safety. The aim of these changes is to ensure that health care is provided only by professionals with the appropriate formal qualifications and competences.
Healthcare establishments faced with the new Royal Decree 239/2026: how does it affect them? When does it come into force?
The Royal Decree 239/2026, of 25 March, amending Royal Decree 1277/2003, of 10 October, establishing the general bases for the authorisation of health centres, services and establishments. proposes some changes to the wording of Royal Decree 1277/2003. Some of them offer a small update of the text, such as the new wording of the minimum common requirements for the authorisation of the installation, operation or modification of a health centre, service or establishment. Or the changes in Annex II, relating to the range of care on offer.
In other cases, changes published in the Royal Decree 239/2026 The new rules are more far-reaching, and they set out a new way of operating that we will have to take into account in order to comply with the regulations.
Among them, we would like to highlight that:
- A Article 7, on Guarantees of health care, patient safety oriented
- Includes 2 additional provisions:
- First additional provision.Information on health personnel.
- Second additional provision.Adaptation of the range of care on offer.
Finally, the Royal Decree 239/2026 sets a date for its entry into force: next year. 1 July 2026.