The Department of Health has called for grants for residents' external rotations for 2026

Alberto Martínez Ruiz, Health Councilor, has signed the Order of September 8, 2026, through which the bases are established and grants for external rotations for health training specialization residents of the Basque Autonomous Community are called for the 2026 call. The Order was published in number 179 of the Official Gazette of the Basque Country on September 18, 2026, with official reference 2026/3937. The call has a budget of 100,000.00 euros, and this amount is divided in two: 50,000.00 euros for the 2026 call and 50,000.00 euros for 2027.

Improving training and retention

The purpose of the call is to facilitate stays in national and international health centers for people training as specialists in accredited centers of the Basque Autonomous Community, provided that the rotation begins in 2026. The grants partially finance travel, accommodation, and registration costs at the destination center. The managing body is the Teaching and Professional Development Service of the Directorate of Transformation, Planning, and Digitalization of the Department of Health.

The call finances a maximum of one external rotation per year for each residency course, and only one request per person is accepted for each course and rotation. Rotations must have prior authorization from the Directorate of Transformation, Planning, and Digitalization, in accordance with Royal Decree 183/2008.

Amounts

The amount of the grant depends on the duration and destination of the rotation, and is a maximum of 1,260.00 euros for four-month rotations carried out outside of Spain. A progressivity criterion is applied:

• In Spain: 500.00 euros for one month, 600.00 euros for two, 700.00 euros for three, and 800.00 euros for four.
• Outside Spain: 700.00 euros for one month, 980.00 euros for two, 1,120.00 euros for three, and 1,260.00 euros for four.

The grants are compatible with other subsidies for the same rotation, provided that the total received does not exceed the cost of the activity. If over-funding occurs, the grant will be reduced to eliminate the surplus.

Who can receive the grants

Applicants must meet these conditions:

• To be training as a specialist in an accredited center of the Basque Autonomous Community.
• To have a positive grade in the evaluation of the last year.
• To start the external rotation in 2026.
• To not have another grant for another rotation in the same residency course.
• To have completed the 2025 satisfaction survey.
• To not be disqualified from receiving subsidies.

Valuation and evaluation

Grants will be awarded through a competitive process, and a minimum of 7 points must be obtained. Average grades are worth up to 10 points, and the adaptation of the rotation to strategic areas up to 5 points. Strategic areas include health management, public health, palliative care, family medicine, mental health, suicide prevention, the Basque Country Cancer Plan 2024-2030, neurodegenerative diseases, rare diseases, gender and health, cardiovascular diseases, aging and chronicity, and bioethics.

The Evaluation Committee will be chaired by director Inés Gallego Camiña, and the members will be: Ion Etxeberria Bidondo and Olalla Torrontegi Vega as vocals, and Iñaki Rekalde Larizgotia as secretary. The resolution will be issued by the Undersecretary of Health and Digital Transformation and will be published in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country.

Deadlines and payment

Applications must be submitted via the electronic office within one month starting from the day after the publication of the call, that is, before October 19, 2026. The maximum period for publishing the resolution is three months, counting from the day after the application deadline ends. The grant will be paid in two installments: 50% in advance, and the remaining 50% after the submission of the justification. The justification must be submitted within one month after the rotation ends.

Impact

This call aims to strengthen the training model of the health system of the Basque Autonomous Community, enabling residents to acquire advanced practical experiences that align with the formative path of their specialty. The measure aims to improve technical and professional competence and promote the retention of specialized personnel to ensure the professional profiles that the health system will need in the future.

Fuente: BOPV, no. 179, September 18, 2026, Other Provisions, pp. 1-17 (official reference: 2026/3937).