OAFI brings the issue of joint health to the Catalan Parliament and secures the adoption of a motion for a resolution to improve prevention and patient care

The OAFI’s appearance before Parliament regarding the motion for a resolution highlights osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and sarcopenia as one of the country’s major public health challenges

Barcelona, May 2026 — The Osteoarthritis Foundation International (OAFI) appeared before the Catalan Parliament this week to outline the current state of joint health in Catalonia and to advocate for specific measures to improve prevention, diagnosis and support for patients with osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and sarcopenia.

Following the hearing, these proposals were incorporated into a draft parliamentary resolution tabled by Junts and ERC, with the support of OAFI, which was approved by a majority of the parliamentary groups.

During the hearing, OAFI highlighted the true scale of a health problem affecting more than 2 million people in Catalonia, with a particularly high impact on women, who account for 7 out of every 10 cases.

The scale of the problem

The data presented highlights the scale of the problem:

• 91% of patients find their daily lives affected.
• 60% live with moderate or severe chronic pain.
• These conditions remain under-represented in prevention and healthcare strategies, and research into them is still limited.

In light of this situation, OAFI has argued for the need to promote structural measures aimed at:

• Strengthening prevention and early screening
• Improving patient support and the patient experience
• To promote a multidisciplinary approach to joint health
• And move towards the implementation of a Master Plan for Rheumatic Diseases

This step represents a significant step forward in the institutional recognition of joint health as a public health priority and reinforces the need to place patients at the heart of health policies, with them taking the lead in prevention and awareness-raising initiatives.

The parliamentary groups, with the motion for a resolution

Most of the political groups present reached a consensus on the adoption of this motion for a resolution. Junts highlighted the gender bias in joint health, emphasising the need to study and identify women’s needs in this area. Meanwhile, ERC highlighted the importance of scaling up screening programmes, supported by nursing staff and outpatient clinics. The PP, for its part, emphasised the urgency of the administration promoting prevention campaigns and how institutional support is key to their success. The Comunes also stressed the need for government support for these initiatives.

At the same time, the PSC proposed discussing a strategic plan rather than a master plan, to avoid making inefficient use of resources. Finally, the motion for a resolution was adopted by a majority, with no votes against.

‘What has been achieved this week in Parliament is significant because it marks the start of making joint health a strategic national priority, turning Catalonia into a hub for the promotion and research of joint health. Prevention, support and patients’ quality of life must be firmly established on the health agenda,’ says Dr Josep Vergés, president of OAFI.

The foundation emphasises that this development is also an important step towards tackling more effectively the social, health and economic impact of conditions that affect millions of people and which, in many cases, are still being diagnosed and treated too late.

OAFI will continue to work with institutions, professionals and patients to promote a healthcare model that is more preventive, participatory and focused on people’s quality of life.

Watch the summary of the hearing here

About OAFI

OAFI (Osteoarthritis Foundation International) is the first international foundation dedicated exclusively to people with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Its mission is to promote prevention, research, education and the defence of patients’ rights, championing an innovative and humanistic approach to joint health.

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