On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, a significant technical incident at the Ministry of Health in Spain disrupted essential digital services, affecting the health card and electronic prescription systems across autonomous communities. The issue stemmed from an electrical failure that occurred in the early hours of the morning, impacting the Data Processing Center (CPD) and leading to a temporary suspension of vital healthcare functions.
The malfunction has serious implications for patients, as it prevents them from obtaining medications with electronic prescriptions outside their home regions and from scheduling medical appointments in health centers located in other communities. According to the Ministry, this incident has created a ripple effect, causing confusion and delays for many citizens relying on these services.
Health Minister Mónica García addressed the situation during her speech at the Forbes Healthcare Summit in Madrid, expressing optimism that the issue would be resolved "throughout the morning" of Wednesday, April 23, 2025. "The signals we have indicate that it will be fixed soon," she assured, emphasizing the ministry's commitment to restoring services as quickly as possible.
The electrical failure specifically affected the cooling system of the CPD, resulting in overheating and the temporary shutdown of its digital services. This incident is categorized as an electrical issue rather than a computer-related malfunction, which has allowed the ministry to focus on recovery efforts without the complications of a cyberattack.
In addition to the disruption of health services, the incident also interfered with the process of selecting places for Specialized Health Training (FSE), which was scheduled to begin on the same day. The selection process, crucial for training future healthcare professionals, was delayed by several hours, eventually commencing at 12:30 PM instead of the planned start time.
García noted that notifications had been sent to each candidate affected by the delay, which included individuals from various fields such as biology, physics, chemistry, pharmacy, and psychology. "Today was the first day for biologists, physicists, and chemists to choose their places, followed by pharmacists and psychologists in the afternoon," she explained.
The Ministry of Health is actively coordinating with the autonomous communities and pharmaceutical associations to mitigate the effects of this disruption. They are working to ensure that patients can resume accessing their medications and medical appointments as soon as possible.
As part of this coordination effort, the ministry has committed to providing timely updates regarding the restoration of services and the rescheduling of the selection process for FSE. The first assignment of positions, particularly for the Chemistry MIR (Medical Intern Resident) program, was originally slated for 10:15 AM but was postponed due to the ongoing technical difficulties.
In total, the selection process for the FSE will allocate over 11,000 resident places across various medical specialties, including 8,772 for medicine (MIR), 2,108 for nursing, 340 for pharmacy, 247 for psychology, 60 for biology, 24 for chemistry, and 43 for physics. This year marks a return to in-person selection processes combined with electronic options, reflecting a shift back to traditional methods after the pandemic.
Despite the challenges posed by the electrical failure, the Ministry of Health is determined to restore normalcy. García reassured candidates that they would be informed well in advance of the new start times for the selection process to ensure a smooth experience.
The incident serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in digital health systems, as even a single electrical failure can have widespread consequences for healthcare delivery. The Ministry of Health's quick response and ongoing communication efforts highlight the importance of transparency and accountability in managing public health services.
As the morning progressed, reports indicated that the ministry was making headway in resolving the technical issues. The restoration of the health card and electronic prescription systems is crucial for thousands of patients across Spain who depend on these services for their daily healthcare needs.
In conclusion, the recent electrical failure at the Ministry of Health underscores the critical nature of robust infrastructure in the delivery of healthcare services. With ongoing efforts to rectify the situation, the ministry aims to minimize the impact on patients and healthcare professionals alike, ensuring that Spain's healthcare system remains resilient in the face of unforeseen challenges.
