- The MIR (Medical Intern Resident) program in Spain introduces Emergency Medicine specialty for the first time in 2026.
- 82 emergency medicine positions nationwide, including 3 in Alicante’s public hospitals.
- Emergency services saw a 30% increase in activity over the past five years, highlighting demand for specialists.
- Medical specialties like Family Medicine remain the largest offer with 82 seats in Alicante alone.
- Registration opens Sept 1-12, 2025, with the exam scheduled for January 24, 2026.
- New electronic and in-person slot selection methods and additional vacancy-filling processes introduced.
Spain’s MIR Program Launches emergency Medicine Residency, Including Spots in Alicante
Starting next year, Spain’s revered Medical Intern Resident (MIR) program will offer, for the first time, specialist training positions in Emergency Medicine and Urgencies. This long-awaited advancement comes after years of pressure from healthcare professionals and responds to a meaningful rise-30% growth over five years-in emergency care demand.
What’s New About the Emergency Medicine Specialty?
Before this innovation, doctors interested in working in emergency services had to pursue other specialties, such as Internal Medicine or family and Community medicine, and then shift their career paths toward urgent care. The 2026 MIR program changes this by opening direct access to specialized training in Emergency Medicine.
This move marks a milestone for Spanish healthcare, aiming to improve patient outcomes by preparing doctors specifically for high-pressure urgent care environments from the outset.
Emergency Medicine Specialties in Alicante: Limited but Promising
Nationally, there will be 82 Emergency Medicine residency slots available. For the Alicante province, three positions will be offered across key hospitals:
| Hospital | Number of Emergency medicine Slots (2026) |
|---|---|
| Hospital General de Alicante | 1 |
| Hospital general de elche | 1 |
| Hospital Universitario de Sant Joan d’Alacant | 1 |
While welcomed enthusiastically by the Spanish Society of Emergency medicine (SEMES), the number is considered insufficient compared to the estimated need. SEMES advocates for between 500 and 700 annual positions nationwide to adequately meet healthcare demands. Nevertheless, they recognize beginning with a smaller offering is a logical step to integrate this specialty sustainably into the medical training framework.
MIR 2026 Alicante: Other Specialty Spots and Health Areas
This year, Alicante’s public hospitals will offer a total of 294 residency positions. The highest number continues to be in Family and Community medicine, which officially has 82 vacancies-one more than last year.
Below is a breakdown of MIR vacancies by health area in Alicante province:
| Health Area / Hospital | Number of MIR Slots |
|---|---|
| Alicante – Hospital General | 82 |
| Elche – Hospital General | 50 |
| Alicante – Sant Joan d’Alacant | 37 |
| Elda | 24 |
| Marina Baixa | 20 |
| Elche – Crevillent | 20 |
| Orihuela | 19 |
| Torrevieja | 16 |
| Dénia | 15 |
| Alcoi / Alcoy | 11 |
Registration and Exam Details for MIR 2026
Prospective residents need to be ready as registration opens from September 1 to 12, 2025. The entrance exam will take place on Saturday, January 24, 2026, starting at 14:00 (2 PM), two hours earlier than in previous years, and will be held in Alicante plus 24 other Spanish cities.
The exam format includes:
- 200 multiple-choice questions + 10 reserve questions.
- Four answer options per question, with only one correct answer.
- Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes.
- Scoring: +3 points for correct answers, -1 for incorrect, 0 for unanswered.
The process of selecting residency slots will be available both electronically and in person. As a new feature, there will be an additional assignment round to fill vacancies and manage candidate withdrawals, increasing chances to secure a position.
Looking Ahead: Strengthening Emergency Care in Spain
Introducing Emergency Medicine directly into the MIR program represents a crucial step toward better addressing the country’s increasing demand for emergency care. Though initial numbers might potentially be conservative, it lays the groundwork for expanding training capacity in the future.
Young doctors eager to specialize in handling critical care situations will now have a clearer,more direct path to follow,ultimately benefiting the quality and timeliness of emergency healthcare across Spain.
Stay tuned for updates as the registration period approaches and prepare to embark on this pioneering medical career path!
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