María Concepción Fito Manteca, new Head of Rheumatology at the Hospital Universitario de Navarra

The Navarre Health Service-Osunbidea has appointed María Concepción Fito Manteca as Head of the Healthcare Rheumatology Service at the University Hospital of Navarra, pursuant to Resolution 1669E/2026, dated August 26, issued by the managing director of the organization. The appointment, published in the Official Gazette of Navarra number 180, dated September 11, 2026, will take effect from September 14, 2026, with a six-year term.

The assigned position is number 71064, and the resolution is issued following a merit-based competition in which the candidate achieved the highest score in the final result, having also passed the evaluation phase of the management project and its public defense.

A process regulated by merit-based competition

The procedure is framed within Foral Order 391E/2023, dated November 27, issued by the Health Councilor, which regulates the provision of healthcare service and section heads within the Navarre Health Service-Osunbidea. The call for applications was approved via Resolution 1222E/2024, dated May 13, by the managing director, and the final list of admitted and excluded applicants was established by Resolution 3062E/2025, dated December 22, by the Director of Professionals.

Upon completion of the procedure, the tribunal proposed the appointment of Fito Manteca to the managing director, as she was the applicant with the highest score and had passed the evaluation of the management project.

Six-year term and effects of the position

In accordance with base 9 of the call, the appointment as head of the service is for a period of six years, unless any of the causes for termination provided for in Article 17 of Foral Decree 347/1993, dated November 22, occur. The resolution is issued in exercise of the powers conferred by the Statutes of the Navarre Health Service-Osunbidea, approved by Foral Decree 171/2015, dated September 3.

The act will be forwarded to the competent bodies for its execution:

• Directorate of Professionals
• Remuneration and Benefits Service
• Personnel Organization and Regime Section
• Professionals Service of the University Hospital of Navarra

Due to the absence of the managing director, the resolution is signed by the Director of Patient Healthcare of the Navarre Health Service-Osunbidea, Nancy Nelly Gonzalo Herrera.

Appeals and publicity

An administrative appeal (recurso de alzada) may be filed against this resolution, which does not exhaust administrative remedies, before the Minister of Health within one month from the day following its publication or notification, pursuant to Article 126.1.c) of Foral Law 11/2019, of March 11, of the Administration of the Foral Community of Navarra and the Foral Institutional Public Sector, and by virtue of the delegation of powers carried out by Foral Order 7/2026, of January 12, of the Minister of Interior, Public Service, and Justice.

The appointment strengthens the leadership of the Rheumatology service at Pamplona’s main reference hospital, a key healthcare area for the treatment of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases in Navarra. The new head will assume the management of the service with a six-year mandate, ensuring the continuity and quality of care at the center.

Source: Official Gazette of Navarra, number 180, September 11, 2026, section I, page 32470 (official reference: Resolution 1669E/2026).