Andorra Health Minister Eyes Limits on Overseas Patient Referrals

Andorra's Health Minister Helena Mas has not ruled out restricting patient referrals abroad for treatments that could be handled by qualified local professionals, as discussed during a parliamentary question session this afternoon.

The exchange arose during a debate on healthcare planning, prompted by Núria Segués, a general councillor from the opposition Concòrdia party. Segués questioned the volume of healthcare activity currently outsourced overseas, asking what portion could be managed internally to cut patient travel, boost financial sustainability, and improve user convenience.

Mas responded that her department continuously incorporates new services domestically, citing the recently established breast unit as an example and a forthcoming cardiology area as a near-term prospect. She stressed ongoing cost-efficiency analyses comparing overseas referrals to in-country options. "When we already have professionals here" capable of providing certain care, Mas said, referrals abroad could be limited, or further assessments made into why some treatments still require external handling.

Mas also invited Concòrdia to join the national health pact, describing it as the ideal framework for addressing planning issues. Segués declined, reiterating her party's view that the pact merely rubber-stamps government decisions, and insisted parliamentary questions suffice for oversight.

On healthcare indicators, Mas announced a dashboard will launch next week, covering 60 of 260 planned metrics to track system efficiency—some aligning with Segués's queries. She described certain opposition examples as "superficial" but adopted a conciliatory tone, noting the health system is being scaled up progressively with new staff, infrastructure, and services.

Additionally, Mas highlighted an upcoming mechanism to attract healthcare professionals. She addressed the new university research institute, stemming from a Health-University of Andorra agreement, which absorbs the epidemiology lab, enables local staff research, and makes Andorra more appealing to foreign experts by offering research opportunities. This would broadly strengthen investigation in the country.