The TIC Salut i Social Foundation (FTSS), on behalf of the Government of Catalonia, has entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with ORCHA to advance a shared vision within Catalonia and the United Kingdom: a safer, more connected, and more efficient digital health ecosystem across Europe.
Catalonia has long been recognised as a pioneer in digital transformation, and with this agreement, it takes a significant step toward solving one of the most persistent challenges in the European digital health landscape—achieving meaningful cross-border recognition of digital health evaluations.
For years, digital health suppliers have faced fragmented, region-by-region requirements. The result has been duplicated assessments, inconsistent standards, and unnecessary barriers to innovation. Through this collaboration, Catalonia aims not only to streamline its own processes but to demonstrate that cross-border validation is possible, practical, and profoundly impactful for health systems, suppliers, and citizens.
FTSS has developed one of Europe’s most comprehensive evaluation frameworks for digital health applications across health and social care. By partnering with ORCHA—a global leader in digital health assurance—Catalonia is establishing a model of alignment that could be replicated across the continent.
The collaboration will test how ORCHA’s international assurance methodologies, including the ORCHA Assured Shield and ORCHA Verify, can accelerate the local assessment process of Catalonia. Together, the parties will examine how shared evaluation pathways can reduce duplication, accelerate safe adoption, and deliver better value for public health systems.
This work is designed not simply to enhance the local process but to generate the evidence needed for wider European harmonisation.
“Catalonia has consistently led Europe in digital health innovation, and with this collaboration we are taking the next major step,” said Joan Guanyabens, Director of FTSS. “Our goal is to show that cross-border recognition is not only desirable, but achievable. If we can adopt common approaches with partners such as ORCHA, we can accelerate innovation, reduce unnecessary burdens on suppliers, and ensure our citizens have access to the safest and most effective digital health tools.”
The partnership reflects the Catalan Government’s commitment to ensuring that digital health solutions meet the highest standards of safety, privacy, and quality. By aligning local and international assurance approaches, the region aims to:
This collaboration will also generate academic and practical evidence—through papers, reports, and shared materials—designed to benefit other regions looking to modernise and harmonise their digital health assurance practices.
“We are honoured to collaborate with the Government of Catalonia, a true European leader in digital transformation,” said Liz Ashall-Payne, Founder and Director of ORCHA Health. “Together, we are building the foundations for a more connected ecosystem where safe, high-quality digital health tools can move seamlessly across borders.”
Over the next 12 months, both parties will work closely to strengthen their understanding of each other’s assurance processes, align methodologies where appropriate, and test shared workflows with digital health suppliers and it represents a strong, strategic commitment to shaping the future of digital health assurance in Europe.
Catalonia’s ambition is clear: to continue leading the digital transformation of health and social care, while helping to create a more coherent and trusted digital health landscape across nations.
About ORCHA
ORCHA is the world’s leading digital health evaluation and distribution platform. With Assurance to prove compliance, Insight to guide better choices, and Access to connect at scale, ORCHA makes trusted digital health easy and safe to adopt. Working with health systems across the UK, Europe, North America, and Australasia, ORCHA powers digital health distribution reaching millions of professionals and patients worldwide. To find out more, please contact us.
About TIC Salut i Social Foundation
The TIC Salut Social Foundation is a public entity belonging to the Catalan Government (Department of Health and Department of Social Rights and Inclusion) to promote equity, innovation and sustainability of the public system. It facilitates transfer of innovation, know-how and tech through digital transformation projects across health and social care innovation ecosystem in order to improve the efficiency and sustainability of health and social services through scaled-up technology.
Find out more at https://ticsalutsocial.cat/ or contact comunicacio@ticsalutsocial.cat