Naval Hospital of Ferrol: keys to the Defense-Galicia agreement for the healthcare sector

Key data

The Ministry of Defense and the Xunta de Galicia have formalized the transfer of use of the Basic Defense Hospital in Ferrol to Sergas. The agreement, published on September 22, 2026 and effective since September 14, is not a total transfer: Defense maintains its own spaces and operational capabilities within the same building.

Resolution 420/38391/2026 from the Technical General Secretariat publishes the agreement that regulates how both administrations coexist under the same roof and what each can do with the assigned spaces.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement articulates the coexistence of Sergas and the Ministry of Defense in the Naval Hospital of Ferrol. The key elements are as follows:

The annex of spaces assigned to Defense has been expressly updated to adapt to the Master Plan for modernization of the Naval Hospital, which means that the physical distribution of the center has been redesigned with this agreement as the regulatory framework.

Economic and operational impact

The agreement does not set direct economic amounts between the parties, but it has relevant operational and budgetary consequences for the organizations involved:

• Optimization of public infrastructure: Sergas assumes management of an already built and equipped hospital, avoiding investment in new hospital infrastructure in Ferrol.
• Shared hyperbaric chamber: joint operation allows Sergas to offer this specialized service without solely assuming the costs of personnel and equipment maintenance.
• Joint biomedical research: the Joint Commission will oversee shared research projects, opening avenues for joint financing between Defense, Sergas, University of A Coruña, and the 061 Foundation.
• Shared training: collaboration between military and civilian personnel generates synergies in specialized healthcare training, with possible impact on the service portfolio of both institutions.
• Master Plan for modernization: the update of the spaces annex indicates that the center is in an active reform process, with implications for suppliers of equipment, works, and hospital services in the Ferrol area.

Who does it affect?

• Military healthcare personnel of the Basic Defense Hospital in Ferrol: their working conditions and spaces are redefined by the new annex.
• Civilian Sergas personnel assigned or to be assigned to the Naval Hospital: begins to operate in an environment of shared use with Defense.
• Ministry of Defense: maintains operational capacity in the center but cedes general management to Sergas.
• Sergas (Galician Health Service): assumes management of the center and the responsibility of articulating agreements with the University of A Coruña and the 061 Foundation.
• University of A Coruña: can access hospital spaces for public interest activities through an agreement with Sergas.
• 061 Foundation: likewise, with the possibility of using spaces for its emergency healthcare activities.
• Suppliers and contractors in the healthcare sector in Ferrol: the Master Plan for modernization generates bidding opportunities in works, equipment, and services.
• Patients and citizens of Ferrol and surrounding area: access to a public hospital with expanded services, including hyperbaric medicine.

Practical example

A military doctor assigned to the Naval Hospital of Ferrol who until now performed expert medical examinations in spaces of exclusive Defense use will continue to develop that activity in the reserved spaces listed in the new annex, without interference from Sergas management.

At the same time, if that same military doctor is part of the team operating the hyperbaric chamber, they will do so in coordination with civilian Sergas personnel, following the protocols established by the Joint Monitoring Commission. This shared operation model is a direct novelty of the agreement: previously, the hyperbaric chamber was exclusively military-managed; now it is a healthcare resource shared between both administrations.

For its part, Sergas could sign an agreement with the University of A Coruña for medical or nursing students to conduct internships at the hospital, using the spaces ceded for public interest purposes that the agreement expressly authorizes.

What should organizations do now?

1. Review the new spaces annex: management personnel from Sergas and Defense in Ferrol must identify what spaces are assigned to each party according to the updated annex, to avoid operational conflicts from day one.
2. Establish or activate the Joint Monitoring Commission: both administrations must designate their representatives on this commission, which is the central governance body of the agreement for training, research, and execution.
3. Define shared operation protocols for the hyperbaric chamber: establish shifts, clinical responsibilities, and chain of command between military and civilian personnel for this specific service.
4. Initiate negotiations with the University of A Coruña and the 061 Foundation: Sergas has express authorization to agree on space use with these entities; it is advisable to formalize those agreements as soon as possible to optimize center use.
5. Update joint training plans: the Joint Commission will oversee training; HR managers from both organizations must align their training plans with the new collaboration framework.
6. Follow the Master Plan for modernization: suppliers and contractors in the healthcare sector in Ferrol should monitor bidding associated with this plan, which is the reference framework for Naval Hospital reforms.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source (BOE-A-2026-19675)

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-19675