Fenin , the Spanish medtech federation, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Founded in 1977, the year of Spain’s first democratic elections, the organisation has worked with more than 20 health ministers and seen several landmark developments. These include the establishment of the tax-funded universal National Health System (SNS), growing responsibility for health policy at regional level, and advances in social security. In the first part of a two-part interview, Margarita Alfonsel, General Secretary of Fenin, shares her reflections on four eventful decades. Q: What are the most significant trends in medical technology that have occurred in Spain in the last 40 years? The multiple technological advances that have developed in the health sector in recent decades have allowed medical care to change substantially. New technologies have been progressively incorporated into care services and they have provided professionals with better tools to prevent health problems, to make better diagnoses, to respond more efficiently and to coordinate patients. Q. Which product areas have seen most growth? Over the years, the contributions of the healthcare technology industry to improving the health and quality of the lives of patients have been numerous. Examples include insulin pumps or glucose monitoring systems in diabetic patients; implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in patients with ischemic heart disease; myoelectric prostheses or knees with microprocessors in patients with motor disabilities; new diagnostic techniques in cancer patients; deep electrical-brain stimulation techniques in patients with degenerative diseases; neuromuscular stimulation, or peritoneal dialysis in patients with renal insufficiency. In recent years, the sectors that have experienced growth of more than 4% in Spain have been Dental, Cardiology, Home Care and Technology and Clinical Information Systems. Q. How many companies / employees work in the health technology sector in Spain today? Fenin brings together large, medium and small companies, national and international. Such companies offer...