Spain voices late payment fears again:

Spain's medical devices industry is bracing itself for the late payments situation to become even worse in the run-up to implementation of the EU's late payments directive in August 2002. The devolving of healthcare provision from the national service, INSALUD, to the autonomous regions has led to financial problems for the regions. This transfer of responsibility is expected to be complete by January 2003. FENIN, the national medical device industry association, has despaired in recent years at some of Spain's autonomous regions' apparent inability to settle their long-term debts (see Clinica No 904, p 2).