On Friday 14th February, a tribute «in memoriam» to Dr. Albert Jovell, who passed away in November last year, was held by the Medical College Organization and attended by representatives from all the main sectors of healthcare.

Dr. Jovell was a professor of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, director of the Global Institute of Public Health and Health Policy, member of the Governing Board of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC) and president of the Spanish Patients' Forum.

The event was chaired by Dr. Juan José Rodríguez Sendín, president of the OMC, who presented Dr. Jovell's wife and current director of the Global Institute of Public Health and Health Policy (IGS), Dr. M. Dolors Navarro, with a commemorative plaque in his memory.

Amongst those representatives present were members of the Health Departments of the Autonomous Communities of Catalonia and Madrid, Boi Ruiz and Javier Rodríguez respectively; the general director of Public Health of the Ministry of Health, Mercedes Vinuesa; and Begoña Barragán, representing the Spanish Patients' Forum. As well as presidents of medical colleges from various parts of Spain, those in attendance included former ministers such as Julián García Vargas and presidents of scientific societies.

The homage paid to Dr. Jovell served as an acknowledgement of all of his work, both as an advisor to and member of the Social Council of the Medical College Organization (OMC) via the Spanish Patients' Forum, in defence of patients, Public Health and the sustainability of the National Health System (SNS). The event was also attended by the manager of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Alberto Canals, who, in his speech, stressed the need to keep taking the voice of the patient into account through such associations as the Spanish Patients' Forum and that 'what would encourage Albert most is that each of the institutions represented here maintains the commitment that he expected of us."