Spain approves nurse and physio drug prescribing

Nurses and physios can now prescribe: Government approves draft Medicines Law

On July 21, 2026, Health Minister Mónica García announced the second-round approval of the draft Medicines Law. The text grants nurses and physiotherapists the ability to prescribe drugs "strictly within their competencies," pending interdisciplinary protocols and regulatory development. It is not yet in force as parliamentary procedures remain. However, the news has sparked heated debate.

What exactly can they prescribe?

Far from alarmist claims about "free access to fentanyl," the draft limits prescription to each specialty's scope. Nurses and physios do not replace doctors; they only prescribe within their area, such as anti-inflammatories, analgesics, or muscle relaxants. No unsupervised opioids. In practice, hospital staff already administer morphine, ketamine, or propofol under medical guidelines. The novelty is that they can now issue the prescription, not just administer the dose.

Context: Doctor shortages and healthcare pressure

Behind this measure lies a real problem: collapsed primary care. With three-week waiting lists for family doctors and emergency rooms often staffed by nursing personnel, the government seeks to ease the burden. Some analysts view it as an inevitable patch; others see it as a gateway to de-professionalization. "If you cannot diagnose, does it make sense to prescribe?" skeptics summarize.

The paradox of fentanyl antiestéticar

It is curious how the debate centers on the risk of nurses "dispensing drugs" when they already have access to the most potent medications in hospitals. "Those who administer morphine daily know more about dosages than many patients," defenders joke. The difference is that the prescription will now bear their name, not the on-call doctor's. The real question is not whether abuse will occur, but if their pharmacology training is sufficient. Nursing and Physiotherapy curricula include limited pharmacy knowledge.

A puzzling fact

While some antiestéticar an "opioid party" and others see logical adjustment, the draft proceeds. "I'll believe it when I see it in the BOE (Official State Gazette)," pragmatists conclude. What no one disputes is that, if the law passes, it will change the healthcare map: more professionals able to prescribe, but also more pressure on control systems. The key lies in the protocols yet to be written.