Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of October 16, 2026, from the National Institute of Health Management (INGESA) |
|---|---|
| Publication | November 9, 2026 |
| Entry into force | November 10, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Nurses who practice in Ceuta and Melilla |
| Category | Public Sector — Healthcare |
| Application deadline | 20 business days from November 9, 2026 |
| Base regulatory framework | Resolution of February 23, 2021 and Royal Decree 118/2023 |
| Purpose | Accreditation to indicate, use and authorize the dispensing of medications and healthcare products for human use |
Nurses in Ceuta and Melilla who want to exercise prescription competencies have a limited time window: 20 business days counted from November 9, 2026. After that deadline, the application will not be processed in this call and they will have to wait for the following year's call.
The Resolution of October 16, 2026 from the National Institute of Health Management (INGESA) formally opens this period and establishes the conditions of the procedure. It is framed within the prior regulation set by the Resolution of February 23, 2021 and the Royal Decree 118/2023, which are the base rules that regulate the accreditation of nurses for the indication, use and authorization of dispensing of medications and healthcare products for human use.
What does this regulation establish?
The resolution has a specific and limited purpose: to open the official deadline for nurses in Ceuta and Melilla to submit their accreditation application to exercise prescription competencies. It does not create new competencies or modify the substantive requirements: those are already defined in the base regulation of 2021.
The key aspects it regulates are as follows:
- Submission deadline: 20 business days from November 9, 2026.
- Purpose of accreditation: Authorization for the indication, use and authorization of dispensing of medications and healthcare products for human use.
- Consequence of submitting outside the deadline: The application is not rejected, but is accumulated and resolved together with those from the following year's call.
- Applicable regulatory framework: Resolution of February 23, 2021 (procedure and requirements) and Royal Decree 118/2023 (general regulation of nurse prescribing).
- Territorial scope: Exclusively the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, managed by INGESA.
To learn the specific requirements for accessing accreditation (required training, documentation, etc.), it is necessary to consult the Resolution of February 23, 2021, which is the base rule of the procedure.
Economic and operational impact
This regulation does not generate direct economic costs for professionals or healthcare centers. Its impact is fundamentally operational and professional enablement:
- For nurses: Without accreditation, they cannot legally exercise prescription competencies. This limits their clinical capacity and can generate professional liability if they act without it.
- For healthcare centers in Ceuta and Melilla: Having accredited nurses expands the care capacity of the team, reduces dependence on medical prescription in certain cases and improves operational efficiency.
- Risk of inaction: A nurse who does not request accreditation within this deadline will have to wait for the following year's call, which means at least 12 months without being able to exercise those competencies in an accredited manner.
Who does it affect?
- Active nurses in Ceuta who do not yet have prescription accreditation.
- Active nurses in Melilla in the same situation.
- Managers and human resources managers of INGESA healthcare centers in both autonomous cities, who must inform their teams of the deadline.
- Nurses who will soon join positions in Ceuta or Melilla and want to exercise prescription competencies from the start.
This regulation does not affect nurses who practice in the rest of the national territory, whose accreditation is managed through the corresponding autonomous communities, not INGESA.
Practical example
A nurse working at the University Hospital of Ceuta wants to be able to indicate and authorize the dispensing of certain medications within her competential scope. To do so legally, she needs INGESA accreditation.
If she submits her application before the 20 business days from November 9, 2026 end, her file is processed in this call and, once resolved favorably, she is authorized to exercise those competencies.
If, on the other hand, she does not submit the application within that deadline —due to lack of knowledge or not being informed in time—, her application will be accumulated for the following year's call. This means that, at a minimum, she will have to wait until the next deadline opening in 2027 to obtain accreditation, with the consequent impact on her daily clinical practice.
What should nurses do now?
- Verify if you already have accreditation: If you already have it, this call does not affect you. If you don't have it, act immediately.
- Calculate the deadline: The deadline is 20 business days from November 9, 2026. Identify the exact closing date by counting business days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays in Ceuta or Melilla).
- Consult the requirements of the Resolution of February 23, 2021: This is the base rule that establishes the documentation and access conditions. Gather all necessary documentation before submitting the application.
- Submit the application within the deadline: Do so through the official INGESA channel. Don't wait until the last day to avoid technical or administrative problems.
- If you are an HR manager or nursing coordinator: Inform your entire team of the deadline. An urgent internal communication can prevent professionals from missing this call due to lack of knowledge.
Frequently asked questions
What is the exact deadline to request prescription accreditation in Ceuta and Melilla?
The deadline is 20 business days counted from November 9, 2026, the date of publication of the INGESA resolution in the BOE. Business days exclude Saturdays, Sundays and official holidays in the cities of Ceuta and Melilla.
What happens if I submit the application outside the 20 business day deadline?
The application is not rejected, but it is not processed in this call either. It is accumulated and will be resolved together with applications from the following year's call. This implies a wait of approximately 12 months or more to obtain accreditation.
What exactly does the accreditation regulated by this resolution allow?
Accreditation authorizes nurses for the indication, use and authorization of dispensing of medications and healthcare products for human use. Without it, nurses in Ceuta and Melilla cannot legally exercise these prescription competencies.
What regulation governs the requirements to obtain this accreditation?
The substantive requirements of the procedure are established in the Resolution of February 23, 2021 and in the Royal Decree 118/2023. The Resolution of October 16, 2026 only opens the application deadline; it does not modify the access requirements.
Does this regulation affect nurses from other autonomous communities?
No. This resolution applies exclusively in the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, whose healthcare management corresponds to INGESA. Nurses in the rest of the national territory process their accreditation through their respective autonomous communities.
Official source
View complete regulation in official source
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-2026-23509
