The Basque public health system has secured two accolades at the IV edition of the Humans Humanization Awards. Santa Marina Hospital and OSI Barrualde-Galdakao emerged as winners in their respective categories, a milestone that solidifies Osakidetza's strategy as a benchmark model after competing with over 200 projects submitted across Spain.

The Palliative Care Unit at Santa Marina Hospital was recognized for its design, which integrates natural light and views into 30 individual rooms, ensuring privacy and family accompaniment. This creates “therapeutic environments for the end of life,” making the space feel “less like a hospital and more like a home,” facilitating day and night companionship in private conditions. Thanks to its design, “common areas and the hall function as spaces for living, socialization, and emotional release,” according to Osakidetza.

Meanwhile, in the Humanized Research and Innovation category, OSI Barrualde-Galdakao received the first prize for its project ‘Redefining humanization: governance, deployment methodology, and digital evidence’. The jury praised this model for driving comprehensive transformation, caring for both patients and their families, as well as its own professionals.

The implementation of this model is supported by innovative tools such as the Humanization Thermometer (GizaGune) and a continuous improvement guide designed by the OS Humanization team. The project already mobilizes over 100 professionals, extending the culture of humanization to all levels of care. “Ultimately, it is a replicable model that consolidates humanization as the engine of excellence for Basque public healthcare,” Osakidetza described.