What it is
Bill to give everyone access to public health care
Admitted step 2 of 7 · UnfinishedIt is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 20 July 2016. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario Socialista.
Official title: Private member's bill on the universalization of the right to public healthcare.
Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000002· updated 11 Nov
Automatic summary, not yet reviewed
- The bill would restore universal access to public health care, reversing the situation created by royal decree-law A rule with the force of law that the Government passes because it is urgent. It applies from its publication, but the Congreso must validate it within 30 days or it lapses. 16/2012, which tied that right to Social Security.
- It would amend the Law on Cohesion and Quality of the National Health System so that all Spaniards and all foreigners in Spain would hold the right to health care, and it would repeal articles 3 bis and 3 ter.
- It would amend article 12 of organic law A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes. 4/2000 so that registered foreigners would get health care on the same terms as Spaniards. It would also guarantee emergency care, care for minors under eighteen, and care for pregnant women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.
- It would extend access to public health care to resident Spaniards who cannot obtain it under other rules, regardless of income, and to self-employed people as defined in the bill. Civil servant mutual funds would keep their special system.
Who it affects
- Spaniards living in Spain without health coverage recognized under other rules: They would get access to public health care on the same terms as everyone else, regardless of income.
- Foreigners registered in a Spanish municipality, including those in an irregular situation: They would get health care on the same terms as Spaniards.
- Foreign minors under eighteen and pregnant foreigners: They would have the right to health care on the same terms as Spaniards.
- Self-employed people as defined in additional provision fifteen of Law 30/1995: National Health System benefits would be extended to them.
- Members of civil servant mutual funds such as MUFACE, the General Judicial Mutual Fund or ISFAS: They would keep their specific legal system.
Words worth knowing
- Real Decreto-ley (Royal Decree-Law)
- A rule with the force of law that the Spanish Government can pass urgently, without going through the full parliamentary process first.
- Empadronamiento (municipal registration)
- Registration on the local registry (padrón) of the municipality where you live.
- Sistema Nacional de Salud (National Health System)
- Spain's network of public health services, run by the State and the autonomous communities.
- Asegurado (insured person)
- A person entitled to public health care because of a link to Social Security, either by contributing or as a beneficiary of someone who does.
- royal decree-law
- A rule with the force of law that the Government passes because it is urgent. It applies from its publication, but the Congreso must validate it within 30 days or it lapses.
- decree-law
- A rule with the force of law that the Government passes because it is urgent. It applies from its publication, but the Congreso must validate it within 30 days or it lapses.
- organic law
- A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes.
It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries
Where it stands
How far did it get?
It took 2 of 7 steps. It reached Admitted, and today it is unfinished.
- Introduced20 July 2016Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
- Admitted6 September 2016The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
- Amendmentsnot reachedGroups propose changes.
- Committeenot reachedA committee goes through the text in detail.
- Plenarynot reachedAll 350 deputies vote.
- Senatenot reachedThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
- BOEnot reachedIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 6 official steps on a timeline
Was there a plenary vote?
We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.
What happens next
What happens now?
The legislature ended before it finished. To go on, someone would have to introduce it again in the new Cortes.
It has not been presented again yet.
Presented before in:
- X Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Rejected· nearly the same title Private member's bill for the universalization of the right to public healthcare.
- X Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Rejected· nearly the same title Private member's bill on the universalization of the right to public healthcare.
- X Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Rejected· nearly the same title Private member's bill on the universalization of the right to public healthcare.
- XI Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Unfinished Private member's bill on the universalization of the right to public healthcare.
Sources
Where does all this come from?
- Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000002
Official title, type, author, dates and stage.
Retrieved 11 November 2026
- The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
- Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
- We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.