The Consejo de Gobierno the city Ceuta decided on 16 September 2026 to challenge the bills issued by Hospital Universitario de Ceuta (HUCE) before the administrative court. The charges cover healthcare provided to unaccompanied foreign minors treated in Ceuta in August 2026. They were submitted to the city by Instituto Nacional de Gestión Sanitaria (INGESA), the state health service.
The city administration bases its lawsuit on Ceuta's particular division of responsibilities: the autonomous city is responsible for the protection and guardianship of unaccompanied minors, while healthcare remains a state responsibility and is provided in the enclave by INGESA. Ceuta argues that it cannot bear costs arising from a state-run health service when the city has no original responsibility for funding it.
The decision follows an explicit demand from INGESA that the city contribute to the costs. The state points to exceptional pressure on the system. INGESA says it has provided additional duty schedules and staff in Ceuta since the end of July to ensure emergency and routine care. The central government has also approved accompanying support measures for Ceuta through a Real Decreto dated 1 September 2026 and published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado.
A similar dispute arose in May 2025, when the city contested HUCE bills for medical age assessments, citing the responsibility of the Ministerio Fiscal to order such examinations. In Ceuta, this dispute is seen as part of a recurring disagreement over responsibilities and costs between the city, the state and subordinate institutions.
The decision to pursue legal action sends a political signal, but for now it does not change the provision of medical care. According to the authorities, treatment of unaccompanied minors at the HUCE is continuing. The amounts to be reimbursed and how they are calculated remain unresolved, as does the long-term allocation of financial responsibility. The competent administrative court will decide the case; any broader agreements between the city, INGESA and the ministries remain subject to negotiation.
No specific amounts, deadlines or procedural steps beyond filing the lawsuit had been disclosed by the time of publication. Both sides say they will ensure uninterrupted healthcare in Ceuta while the dispute over who pays is resolved through the courts.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).