Catalonia to approve 'MND Law' offering support to patients, families and caregiver

The Catalan President, Salvador Illa, has announced that Catalonia will approve a decree on March 17 to implement the 'MND Law' in Catalonia – aimed at providing aid and support to people affected by motor neurone disease, as well as their families and caregivers.

Illa explained that the decree will allow for the deployment of aid for MND patients classified under the "third degree of extreme dependency," which is the highest level of care needed under the Spanish dependency law. 

The president estimates that around 200 people in Catalonia could benefit from the law and stated that affected individuals could begin applying for aid support from March 19.

For Illa, the decree reflects Catalonia's "moral responsibility" to care for people facing severe dependency.

He also highlighted that, with this decree, Catalonia will be one of the first autonomous communities to implement the law approved by the Spanish Congress in October 2024. 

Until recently, the law lacked funding, but now autonomous communities can put it into practice.

The law made Spain the first country in Europe, and one of the first in the world, to recognize this level of extreme dependency for patients of MND, which includes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Application process

Starting March 19, people can apply for "third degree of dependency recognition" – the highest level eligible for MND law benefits – while other support options exist for lower degrees.

Those with advanced ALS, other neurodegenerative motor neuron diseases, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, stroke, or spinal muscular atrophy types I and II can also apply. 

In 2026, the Catalan government will allocate €20 million, offering beneficiaries €5,000–€15,000 per month depending on the intensity of care required. 

The support can cover home care services or a personal assistant, and all decisions will be made within three months.