title: [Governability of the Spanish national health system: improving the balance between the benefits and costs of decentralization. 2008 SESPAS Report].
abstract: The Spanish National Health System (SNHS) is currently in a complex equilibrium which, even if acceptable in the short term, faces major sustainability and governance challenges; the so far inconclusive outcome of the SNHS decentralization process clearly underlines the importance of seeking new alternatives to effectively bring about the real benefits of decentralization, while taking advantage of the system's economies of scale and achieving its equity objectives. To this end, four lines of action are proposed in this paper: first, redefine the SNHS based on universal public coverage, as a civic right and equal for all; second, reframe the financing system and the role of the Cohesion Fund; third, review the role of central government and its Ministry of Health, and fourth, create of a SNHS Agency headed by a Commissioner, for providing an organizational framework and identity for the SNHS, and serving as the cooperative body of the seventeen Autonomous Communities' Health Services.
authors.affiliation: Escuela Nacional de Sanidad. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, España. jrepullo@isciii.es
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Repullo
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Freire
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D013030:Spain