Spanish health official displays a Ministry of Health certificate for asbestos-related injury, as Spain rolls out its new national certification system alongside expanded neonatal screening reforms. (Editorial illustration.)
CISNS approves sweeping updates to neonatal diagnostics and formalizes a nationwide system to certify asbestos-related disease for compensation
Spain’s Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS) has approved two major public health measures that materially expand early-detection capabilities and strengthen national protections for citizens harmed by asbestos exposure. The dual decisions announced in separate Ministry of Health releases mark one of the most significant simultaneous updates to Spain’s screening and environmental health frameworks in recent years.
Neonatal program grows to 21 congenital diseases with 10 new tests added
In its first move, CISNS approved a long-anticipated update to the common national portfolio of neonatal screening services, adding 10 new congenital conditions to the existing heel-prick testing program. The expansion increases the total conditions screened from 11 to 21 congenital diseases, positioning Spain among the European countries with the broadest standardized newborn diagnostics.
The approval comes through a draft Order amending the Unified Health System’s common service portfolio. The update also formally renames the program from “Neonatal screening for endocrine-metabolic diseases” to the more inclusive “Neonatal screening program for congenital diseases in heel-prick test,” reflecting its broadened scope.
Officials said the expansion is aimed at reducing territorial disparities and ensuring that all infants regardless of region have uniform access to early diagnosis for rare but severe genetic, metabolic and immunological disorders. The newly added tests include conditions such as propionic acidemia, primary carnitine deficiency, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, and several other inherited metabolic diseases with high risk of irreversible harm if not detected in the neonatal period.
In addition to neonatal screening, CISNS endorsed several updates to other components of the NHS common portfolio. The ministry approved the incorporation of preeclampsia screening into routine prenatal monitoring and extended colorectal cancer screening eligibility from age 69 to 74. Another change removes age limits for IVF using donor oocytes in cases of premature ovarian failure, a shift aimed at standardizing reproductive health access.
The Order also clarifies the scope of rehabilitative care by removing the limiting term “recoverable,” opening the door for broader rehabilitation aimed at improving functional autonomy. Furthermore, the updated governance structure adds patient representatives to the multidisciplinary committee advising on genomics and genetic medicine, ensuring that stakeholder perspectives are represented in future coverage decisions.
Health officials stressed that expanding neonatal and preventive screenings will increase early detection, reduce disability, and support equitable care delivery across autonomous communities.
Spain formalizes national certification process for asbestos-related diseases
In a separate but equally consequential action, CISNS approved the “Procedure for the issuance of a certificate of pathologies derived from asbestos exposure,” establishing a standardized nationwide system to determine eligibility for compensation under the State Fund for Victims of Asbestos.
The new regulatory framework is enabled by Royal Decree 483/2025, which created the fund to support individuals harmed by occupational, domestic, or environmental exposure to asbestos a long-standing public health crisis with profound respiratory and oncologic consequences.
The certification will be carried out by newly designated Asbestos Victim Assessment Teams (EVVA) in each autonomous community. These specialized units will evaluate medical evidence, exposure histories, diagnostic findings, and case documentation to determine whether an applicant’s condition is attributable to asbestos.
The first group eligible for certification includes individuals already recognized either judicially or administratively as permanently disabled due to occupational asbestos-related disease. Additional eligible groups will be incorporated in future budget laws, expanding the reach of the compensation program.
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The neonatal expansion enhances the country’s capacity to identify rare congenital diseases before symptoms emerge, reducing long-term disability and treatment delays. Simultaneously, the new asbestos certification pathway provides long overdue systemic support for individuals seeking recognition and compensation for environmental and occupational harm.
Together, the decisions highlight CISNS’ central role in harmonizing public health standards across Spain’s decentralized healthcare system. Officials emphasized that both updates mark an important step toward ensuring that all citizens regardless of region, age, or exposure history benefit from consistent, scientifically guided national health protections.