Budget independence for 400 Spanish hospitals:

Spanish legislation proposing to give hospitals budget control has been extended to include 400 public hospitals in the country's autonomous regions. The original legislation allowing hospitals to become independent trusts referred only to the 80 institutions managed by the national health agency, Insalud (see Clinica No 838, p5). Health services in the eight autonomous regions are controlled by local government. Inclusion of these hospitals may mean the legislation has a rockier path through Congress if regional political parties perceive the amendment as interference by central government. Congress will vote on the issue on 31 December.