Prize Winners

Curriculum Vitae

Doctor of Medicine and Surgery, Autonomous University of Madrid.

Director-General of Primary and Specialised Care (INSALUD). Chair of the Council of Europe’s Transplant Commission (Strasbourg). Chair of the Inter-territorial Council’s Transplant Commission (Ministry of Health)

Jury ruling

The jury for the Rei Jaume I Prize for Clinical Medicine, meeting in Vila-Real (Castellón), has unanimously decided to award the 1999 prize to Mr Rafael Matesanz Acedos.

This is in recognition of his exceptional leadership in establishing the National Transplant Organisation in 1989. This organisation has placed Spain at the forefront globally in the field of organ transplants.

The system created has been recognised for its significant impact on Spain’s health and society, as well as serving as a model for the organisation of similar systems in other countries.

Given the shortage of organs and the demand for them, the ‘Spanish Model’ has brought about a change in procedure that has improved the prognosis for a large number of patients.