Changes in the SNS Orthopedic Prosthetic Product Offer

Changes in the SNS Orthopedic Prosthetic Product Offer

Understand the update to the regulatory framework governing the provision of orthopedic prosthetic products by the National Health System (Sistema Nacional de Salud), published in July 2026.

The Order SND/715/2026, dated July 8 and effective since July 15, changes how the SNS identifies and renews orthoses, prostheses, and wheelchairs covered by the public system. The change is administrative — it does not alter what you can request or how to request it today.

What's Actually Changing

The SNS is replacing the old identification seal system with the unique European identifier (UDI-DI), the same standard already used for medical products in the European Union — the goal is to simplify management and digitalize the process. Additionally, the deadline for companies to renew product registration changes from 3 to 5 years. Implementation is gradual, by product category: it began in February 2025 with non-custom wheelchairs, and other categories will be introduced gradually through specific resolutions.

What This Means for Users of Orthopedic Prosthetic Products

In practice, if you are already using or requesting a product covered by the SNS, the procedure to request it from your doctor remains unchanged — the change occurs in the technical registration of the product, not in your access to it. The visible effect, if any, is indirect: with a longer renewal cycle (5 years instead of 3), the availability of products tends to be more stable over time, with fewer disruptions due to expired registrations.

If you have doubts about coverage for a specific product, the path remains the same: your primary care physician or specialist, and your Autonomous Community — responsible for the direct management of local orthopedic prosthetic services.

Sources

Order SND/715/2026, BOE · Ministry of Health