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Four vacancies may not seem like much. But in the public health sector, a small recruitment drive can sometimes say a great deal about the direction in which the system is heading.
This year, Sergas has organised the first competitive examination to recruit biomedical engineers as permanent statutory staff. The category was created in 2025 and is now beginning to take shape within the Galician public sector.
The news coincided with the 2nd Biomedical Engineering Conference held in Vigo, organised by the School of Industrial Engineering, with the University of Vigo and Álvaro Cunqueiro Hospital cited as two of the leading institutions by the regional government and the organisers.
Context helps us to understand this development. Hospitals are increasingly using technology: diagnostic imaging, monitoring equipment, medical devices, clinical software, digital solutions, connected systems, diagnostic support tools and innovation projects that require technical validation before they can be introduced into everyday practice.
The new category specifically recognises this professional field. Act 5/2025 covers functions relating to research, innovation, development, design, testing and validation of biomedical solutions, medical devices, healthcare software and digital health tools. It also provides for specialised technical support and in-house manufacturing where appropriate.
In practice, this affects very specific decisions within a hospital. What technology is introduced. How it is adapted to a department. What security requirements it needs. How it is coordinated with clinical teams. What happens when a digital solution generates data, integrates with other systems or requires technical support.
The Sergas recruitment drive includes four posts. It does not radically change the Galician healthcare structure, but it opens up a new avenue within the public system. Until now, many of these functions were spread across technical services, service providers, IT, maintenance, research or specific projects. The creation of a dedicated category brings greater order to this role.
Vigo finds itself in an interesting position in this regard. The Álvaro Cunqueiro Hospital is a hub for clinical and technological activity; the University of Vigo trains biomedical engineers; and the conference held this week has brought together professionals, academics and healthcare leaders to address a very practical question: what kind of professionals does a hospital need when it no longer operates solely with stand-alone technology, but with increasingly interconnected systems?
La respuesta no llegará con cuatro plazas. Pero empieza por ahí.
The challenge will be to see how this role fits into the teams, what scope they will have to get involved in real-world projects, and how they will coordinate with clinicians, managers, IT specialists, physicists, technicians and companies. Healthcare technology is already present within the hospital. Now Galicia is also beginning to recruit specific roles to manage it from within.
Sources
Galician Regional Government — Sergas announces the first competitive examination for the post of biomedical engineer:
https://www.xunta.gal/es/notas-de-prensa/-/nova/023365/servizo-galego-saude-convoca-primer-concurso-oposicion-para-ingreso-como-personal
DOG — Resolution of 31 March 2026 announcing a competitive examination for biomedical engineers:
https://www.xunta.gal/dog/Publicados/2026/20260413/AnuncioG0003-310326-0001_es.html
Cadena SER Vigo — Vigo, the Galician hub of biomedical engineering in the public health sector:
https://cadenaser.com/galicia/2026/09/22/vigo-epicentro-gallego-de-la-ingenieria-biomedica-en-la-sanidad-publica-radio-vigo/
BOE — Ley 5/2025, de 23 de diciembre, de medidas fiscales y administrativas:
https://www.boe.es/eli/es-ga/l/2025/12/23/5/con