The Basque public health system, Osakidetza, has been nominated as a finalist in three categories at the prestigious New Medical Economics 2026 awards. These accolades recognize advancements in healthcare management and initiatives driving innovation within the sector. The nominations reflect the key principles of the Basque Health Pact: organizational excellence, community prevention, and citizen-centered innovation.
Basurto University Hospital (OSI Bilbao-Basurto) is a contender in the "Best Managed Public Hospital" category, highlighting its process efficiency, organizational capacity, and care quality. This hospital center has previously received accolades such as the Best in Class (BIC) awards and significant healthcare management excellence and innovation accreditations, including the International Gold Accreditation for its work in smoking prevention.
Meanwhile, the Bioaraba Health Research Institute (IIS Bioaraba) is competing in two categories. Its project "El viaje de Mangols" is nominated for "Best Care Transformation Initiative," an integral program against childhood overweight and obesity developed in Primary Care, combining a digital therapeutic game, motivational consultations, and integration with the Electronic Health Record. The second project, "Technology to delay the onset of alcohol consumption in adolescents," is nominated for "Good Practices in Primary Care" with a digital tool designed to delay the age of alcohol initiation among young people.
The public voting period to select the winning entities will be open until October 15th. These nominations are the result of coordinated work between the Department of Health of the Basque Government and Osakidetza, underscoring collaboration among care services, integrated organizations, and research institutes.
