Extremadura opens the decree for the Health Users' Ombudsman to public consultation

The Regional Ministry of Health and Dependency Care of the Junta de Extremadura is submitting for public consultation the draft decree that modifies the legal regime of the Ombudsman for Users of the Public Health System of Extremadura. The department’s General Secretariat signed on October 30, 2026, the resolution that jointly opens the prior public consultation, the hearing, and the public information process, published in the Official Gazette of Extremadura (DOE) number 212, on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, with the official reference 2026062751. Any interested natural or legal person will have seven business days to submit allegations.

The regulation intended for reform is Decree 4/2003, of January 14, which regulates the legal regime, structure, and operation of the Ombudsman for Users of the Public Health System of Extremadura. The text has been in force for more than two decades, and the resolution now published does not detail the specific content of the modification, which must be examined in the regulatory project itself presented for consultation.

The file is being processed via an urgent procedure. An agreement from the General Secretariat dated October 26, 2026, ordered this processing under Article 66.3 of Law 1/2002, of February 28, of the Government and Administration of the Autonomous Community of Extremadura. The decision explains that the participation period is limited to seven business days instead of the ordinary periods provided for the drafting of general provisions.

The procedure is also supported by the citizens’ right to participate in the drafting of regulations. Articles 7 and 40 of Law 4/2013, of May 21, on Open Government of Extremadura, require the regional Administration to publish ongoing regulatory drafting procedures, including their objective, processing status, and draft. In the same vein, Article 133 of Law 39/2015, of October 1, on the Common Administrative Procedure of Public Administrations, regulates citizen participation in the drafting of regulations with the rank of law and regulations.

Seven business days from the day following publication

The deadline is common for the prior consultation, the hearing, and the public information, and extends for seven business days counted from the day following the publication of the resolution in the Official Gazette of Extremadura, that is, from November 5, 2026.

During this period, any interested natural or legal person may examine the text of the project and formulate the proposals, suggestions, recommendations, observations, or allegations they deem appropriate.

In-person, electronic, and email consultation

The resolution enables several channels to exercise participation:

• Public exhibition of the project at the premises of the Consumer Institute of Extremadura, at number 9 San Salvador Street, Mérida (Badajoz), from 09:00 to 14:00 hours during the indicated days.
• Consultation at the Single Point of Access to Information of the Junta de Extremadura, Transparency area, Citizen Participation section, at the address https://www.juntaex.es/tuatencion/participacion.
• Submission of contributions through any of the means provided for in article 16.4 of Law 39/2015, of October 1, including the email dg.incoex@salud-juntaex.es.
• Submission through Miespacio, the personalized area of the Single Point of Access to Information of the Junta de Extremadura, at the address https://www.juntaex.es.

The resolution is signed in Mérida, on October 30, 2026, by the general secretary María del Pilar Nogales Perogil, and is inserted in the general provisions section of the regional bulletin.

A procedure affecting patients, associations, and professionals

The Ombudsman for Users of the Public Health System of Extremadura is the figure called upon to channel the complaints and claims of the users of the Extremaduran public health system, therefore any change in its legal regime, structure, or operation directly affects the relationship between the citizenry and health services.

The reform particularly affects patients and their families, but also consumer and user associations, professional colleges, and healthcare workers, who may raise their objections within an especially short period. The fact that the processing has been declared urgent reduces the participation window to seven business days, meaning that interested entities must submit their contributions quickly if they wish to influence the final text.

Source: Official Gazette of Extremadura, no. 212, November 4, 2026 (official reference: 2026062751).