Historia de la formación sanitaria especializada en España y sus claves docentes

The modernisation of the National Health System (NHS) in Spain occurred in parallel with the creation and development of the Postgraduate Medical Education system (medical specialty training system, the so-called “residency system”) throughout the 60's to 80's of the 20th century. The system was a translation of the “to learn by working” US model. The Hospital General de Asturias (Oviedo) in 1963 (an initiative by Fernando Alonso Lej de las Casas and Carles Soler Durall), and the Clínica Puerta de Hierro (Madrid) in 1964 (initiative of José María Segovia de Arana), were the first two hospitals to start the Spanish Specialty Training system, which was extended to the whole NHS in 1972, and was legally consolidated in 1984 as the only official specialisation route. Since them, the system continues to be developed by the NHS according to the Ministry of Health and the Departments of Health (Regional Governments) instructions and criteria. The Spanish university has no responsibility in this process. The training is guaranteed through an employment contract, whereby the resident has the obligation to be provided a job and the right to receive training according to the national residency programs of each specialty.