One of the innovations is applying the new protocol of prenatal diagnosis of fetal congenital anomalies during the first three months of the pregnancy


The Minister of Health, Marina Geli, has today presented to health professionals the Strategic Plan for the Management of Maternity and Child Health Services and of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in primary health care.

In Catalonia, relevant demographic and social changes have occurred. After 25 years of birth rate reduction and stabilization, in the last 10 years it has increased over 50%. This increase is due to immigrant population, as well as to the fact that many Catalan women have delayed childbirth.

This lead to refocuse the service portfolio to sexual and reproductive health care and the roles and work dynamics of primary health care teams and of maternity and child health units in hospitals.

As a result of the work of technical staff from the Ministry of Health and the Catalan Health Service, health care service providers and women associations, the aim of the Plan is to guarantee assistance adapted to the needs, and to fulfill health, quality and service efficiency objectives.

The Action Plan 2008-2010 foresees:

• The implementation of the Plan to guarantee a unique functional service per region and to ensure this service is provided with efficacy, effectiveness and equity, so that users perceive a good service is provided.

• Prevention, health promotion and health education, including community and individual actions are oriented towards prevention of unwanted pregnancy, addressed to the whole population and, especially, to vulnerable groups.

• The prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer–human papilloma virus.

• The application of the new protocol of the Programme of prenatal diagnosis of fetal congenital anomalies during the first three months of pregnancy.

• The provision of natural childbirth.

• The improvement of guarantee and quality of services: improvement in the provision of induced abortion.

L’articulació d’aquest Pla estratègic d’ordenació es farà mitjançant una comissió tècnica del Ministry of Health, amb la participació de professionals experts, i una comissió assessora amb representació de proveïdors, societats científiques i entitats de dones i de la ciutadania.

The articulation of this Strategic Plan will be carried out through a technical commission of the Ministry of Health, with the participation of expert professionals, and an advisory commission with the representation of providers, scientific societies, and women and citizen organizations.