Andorra Adds 23 Doctors in 2026 as Espot Defends Sick-Leave Controls

The number of practising doctors in Andorra rose by 23 during 2026, reaching 415 in September from 392 at the end of 2025, head of government Xavier Espot told the Consell General during a control session.

Espot presented the increase as evidence that measures taken to attract medical professionals are producing results. He also pointed to changes to entry requirements, improved pay rates and a new collective agreement at the SAAS covering salary increases, training, working hours and work-life balance, with further steps planned to make family reunification easier. "We are heading in the right direction," he said, adding that existing changes have already made it simpler to bring in foreign professionals.

The session also covered the rules on sick leave and the use of doctors based abroad.

Responding to two questions from Andorra Endavant councillor Noemí Amador, Espot rejected systematic prior validation of every sick note by the CASS social security fund, but said the government is willing to examine a mechanism allowing doctors in certain cases to seek the CASS's opinion before granting leave. Amador had argued that the current model can leave doctors feeling pressured by the risk that a patient refused incapacity will simply consult another professional, and proposed that all cases be forwarded to the CASS with the necessary information so that the fund's experts validate each one.

Espot said the answer was not to assess every sick note systematically, but to reinforce verification and control mechanisms in cases where doubts exist. He noted the CASS has doubled its sick-leave control doctors from three to six, and that work is under way with the Col·legi de Metges to set more objective criteria, particularly for incapacity linked to mental health.

On foreign specialists, Espot said legislation already allows certain doctors established outside the Principality to work up to 90 days a year in the public health system. By October 1 this year, 12 special authorisations, 10 extensions and permits to practise for up to 90 days had been granted to 11 professionals — 10 cardiologists and one radiologist. He said the government was ready to keep studying and adapting these mechanisms as care needs warrant, after Amador called for going further and allowing self-employed specialists to hold regular consultations at authorised centres.

Health minister Helena Mas did not attend the session because of a prior commitment.

Answering a question from Concòrdia councillor Núria Segués, Espot said the SAAS is studying adding new treatments and specialties at Nostra Senyora de Meritxell Hospital, citing angiology and trauma surgery. Any expansion, he stressed, would have to guarantee a standard of care at least equivalent to that of the foreign centres where patients are currently referred.