The Government of the Canary Islands has extended its cooperation with the notarial profession to make it easier to issue advance healthcare directives. On 2 October 2026, the Minister for Health Esther Monzón (Consejería de Sanidad) and the Dean of the Colegio Notarial de las Islas Canarias, Alfonso Manuel Cavallé, signed an addendum to continue the existing cooperation agreement. The aim is to simplify access to the so-called Manifestaciones Anticipadas de Voluntad —the Spanish term for advance healthcare directives—and ensure they can be found when treatment is needed.
The agreement provides that citizens may formalise their directive before administrative staff, at a notary’s office or before three witnesses. If the Manifestación Anticipada de Voluntad is drawn up by a notary and has first been authorised by the Consejería de Sanidad, the administration pays the notarial fee; the notary’s office then sends the text to the central register. The Registro de Manifestaciones Anticipadas de Voluntad is uniform, public and free of charge throughout the Autonomous Community; it is maintained by the Consejería de Sanidad.
According to official figures, 4,611 directives were registered in the Canary Islands in 2025—an increase of 26.6 per cent on 2024 (3,642). By far the largest share of documents newly registered in 2025 were drawn up before administrative staff; a smaller proportion were notarised, and only a few were made before witnesses. A total of 28,276 directives are currently recorded as valid in the register. The figures come from the latest notice issued by the Gobierno de Canarias and the Boletín Oficial de Canarias.
The Government cites practical benefits for patients and healthcare professionals as the reason for the extension: a uniform registration system is intended to ensure that documented treatment wishes are available in good time if people are no longer able to express themselves. The notarial route is for those who prefer a notarised document; free formalisation by the relevant administrative staff remains an option. The agreement does not change the substantive requirements for a directive, but instead sets out responsibilities, procedures and the transmission of documents to the register.
Directives may record wishes to accept or refuse medical treatment, as well as preferences regarding organ donation and statements of ethical or religious beliefs. They may also name one or more trusted people as representatives to communicate the issuing person’s stated values and decisions to medical staff.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).