The cooperative movement at the service of social medicine
Dr. José Carlos Sánchez Marcos, counselor of Lavinia and delegate of ASISA in Ávila, participated in the Catholic University of Ávila (UCAV) as part of the VII University Week of Social Economy 2026. During his intervention, he highlighted the value of the cooperative model in guaranteeing the quality and accessibility of the healthcare system.
Sánchez Marcos reviewed the origins of healthcare cooperativism in Spain, a model based on medicine without intermediaries between doctor and patient, which focuses on the reinvestment of profits. In this sense, he pointed out that Lavinia S. Coop., the sole shareholder of ASISA, is currently the largest healthcare cooperative in Spain and Europe.
Throughout his presentation, he shared the evolution of private healthcare in Spain, noting that health insurance already has an average penetration exceeding 26%. In regions such as Madrid, Catalonia, or the Balearic Islands, this figure rises to more than 30% of the population.
Currently, more than 14 million citizens rely on private healthcare, a sector that already accounts for 2.5% of the national GDP and generates employment for more than 309,000 professionals.
In this scenario, the doctor emphasized the need to promote public-private collaboration to optimize all available resources in an organized manner. From this perspective, he analyzed the importance of administrative mutualism and the relevance of processes such as the renewal of the Muface agreement, where ASISA plays a fundamental role.
Finally, in the discussion with students, current challenges were addressed, such as the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the sector, the need for efficient mechanisms for the exchange of healthcare data, and the constant drive for scientific research.
The insurer already serves more than 150,000 policyholders and is committed to expanding its activity in the coming months to reach new markets.
The ASISA Group held its annual Consultative Board meeting, where it presented its results for the 2025 financial year, a year marked by the fulfillment of its strategic objectives and a notable boost across all its business areas. During the meeting, the company confirmed the solidity of its cooperative model, achieving a total premium volume of 1,890.52 million euros in the Iberian Peninsula. This 21.1% increase compared to the previous year was complemented by a 7.3% growth in its healthcare turnover, which reached 725.5 million euros, thus consolidating the entity's best historical record to date.