Madrid, 22 August 2025 – Spain’s National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) has advised against making public the prices of orthopaedic products financed by the National Health System (NHS), warning that the move could reduce competition and ultimately raise costs.
The opinion, issued at the request of the Ministry of Health, responds to concerns raised by civil servant mutual insurance companies that face difficulties in directly contacting establishments dispensing such products. Price publication was considered as a potential solution.
However, the CNMC said that disclosing commercially sensitive information could increase the risk of collusion between suppliers, harming users, insurers, and the NHS. Instead, it recommended alternative measures such as improving institutional cooperation, enhancing digitalization and interoperability, and ensuring insurers can directly access relevant data.
Beyond the immediate issue, the authority urged a broader review of the financing system for orthopaedic products. Suggested reforms include updating the methodology for catalog revisions, adjusting Maximum Financing Amounts (IMF), revisiting pricing rules, streamlining operator access, and reducing processing times.
The CNMC’s report (INF/CNMC/161/25) is advisory and non-binding but may inform the Ministry’s policy decisions.
Source: https://www.cnmc.es/prensa/productos-ortoprotesicos-20250822
