Andorra Opens First Interventional Cardiology Suite at Meritxell Hospital

Andorra's Nostra Senyora de Meritxell Hospital has opened the country's first interventional cardiology suite, a 250-square-metre facility that enables basic cardiovascular procedures on site and spares around 400 patients a year from travelling abroad.

Inaugurated last Tuesday, the unit became operational shortly afterwards and has already treated 17 patients in its first 15 days. Equipped with cutting-edge technology for interventional cardiology and haemodynamics, it supports treatments such as pacemaker implantation, electrophysiological studies, arrhythmia management, and simple intracoronary stent placement. More complex cases will still be referred to reference hospitals in Barcelona.

The government invested €1.1 million in adapting the space, installing advanced equipment, and reinforcing the structure. The SAAS, Andorra's public health service, has also hired five new healthcare professionals to staff the unit and handle the increased workload.

SAAS director general Meritxell Cosan described the project as a "decisive qualitative leap" for Andorran healthcare. She noted its origins five years ago under her predecessor, Dr Josep Maria Piqué, and highlighted the challenges overcome, including a halted initial tender due to legal appeals and the original contractor's withdrawal three years later. Cosan called it a demonstration of the institution's "resilience and growth".

Head of Government Xavier Espot hailed the suite as a "national project" that bolsters healthcare autonomy. He said it would reduce the distress for cardiac patients no longer needing transfers to neighbouring countries during critical moments. Espot framed the facility within recent efforts to modernise the hospital with high-tech services, creating a more efficient, comprehensive and quality system while drawing top international medical talent, led by specialists Dr Brugada and Dr Carballo.