Hospital Can Misses in Ibiza is set to receive a second magnetic resonance imaging scanner in 2027 as the island's health authorities move to increase diagnostic capacity in response to rising demand.

The Área de Salud de Ibiza y Formentera has already begun the procurement process following approval of the investment by the Balearic Government. The initial budget is €1.3 million, covering both the new MRI system and the construction work required to install it within the hospital's Radiology Department.

The new equipment is expected to be installed during the first quarter of 2027, subject to the completion of the procurement and installation process.

A €1.3 Million Investment in Diagnostic Capacity

The new MRI scanner will be a high-field 1.5-tesla system, described by the health authorities as a latest-generation device.

A dedicated area of approximately 150 square metres is being prepared within the Radiology Department at Can Misses to accommodate the equipment.

The €1.3 million budget includes the purchase of the scanner as well as the works needed for its installation and the maintenance arrangements associated with the new system.

Once operational, Can Misses will have two MRI scanners, increasing the hospital's ability to carry out examinations for patients from Ibiza and Formentera.

More Than 5,200 MRI Examinations in Six Months

The decision comes after a particularly high level of demand for MRI examinations across the Pitiusas.

During the first six months of 2026, a total of 5,258 MRI examinations were carried out for patients served by the Ibiza and Formentera Health Area.

Of these, 3,523 were performed and reported at Hospital Can Misses.

A further 1,138 examinations were reported with support from E-Diagnostic Clínica Virtual de Especialidades, a Barcelona-based company that provides reporting services for some MRI and CT examinations carried out through the hospital's Radiology service.

Another 597 MRI examinations were both performed and reported at Policlínica Nuestra Señora del Rosario.

The figures illustrate the scale of diagnostic activity currently being managed by the island's health system.

Can Misses Currently Relies on External Support

The demand for MRI testing means that Can Misses currently needs support from external providers.

The health area has an existing agreement with Policlínica Nuestra Señora del Rosario, while E-Diagnostic provides reporting support for some of the examinations carried out through the hospital.

The arrival of a second scanner is intended to allow a larger share of this workload to be handled within Can Misses itself.

The additional capacity could also help the hospital manage demand more efficiently as the population and healthcare requirements of Ibiza and Formentera continue to evolve.

A Key Tool for Diagnosing Serious Conditions

Magnetic resonance imaging is one of the most widely used diagnostic imaging technologies in modern hospitals.

Unlike X-rays and CT scans, MRI does not use ionising radiation. Instead, it uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce highly detailed images of structures within the body.

A 1.5-tesla system can be used to examine a wide range of areas, including the brain, spine, joints, abdomen, pelvis and soft tissues.

MRI examinations are commonly used to investigate and monitor conditions including neurological disorders, musculoskeletal injuries, tumours, infections, inflammatory processes and other abnormalities.

The technology is also valuable for planning surgery, following chronic diseases and assessing how patients respond to treatment.

Oncology and Neurology Among the Main Uses

Health Minister Manuela García said during her visit to Can Misses that more than 6,000 MRI examinations were carried out at the hospital during 2025.

She highlighted oncology and neurology among the areas in which the examinations are particularly important.

The need for detailed imaging is especially relevant in these specialties, where MRI can be used both to investigate suspected disease and to monitor patients already receiving treatment.

Increasing local access to scanning can therefore play an important role in the wider diagnostic and treatment pathway.

A New Radiologist Is Also Planned

The investment in equipment comes alongside an effort to strengthen specialist staffing.

During her visit to the hospital, García announced the recruitment of a new radiologist for Can Misses.

Radiology is a highly sought-after medical speciality nationally, according to the health authorities, and recruiting specialists can be challenging.

The combination of additional equipment and specialist staff is intended to reinforce the hospital's diagnostic service rather than simply increase the number of machines available.

Why Two MRI Machines Matter for Ibiza

Having a second scanner is expected to provide greater operational flexibility for the hospital.

A single piece of diagnostic equipment has to accommodate routine examinations as well as urgent cases, follow-up studies and more complex imaging.

A second system creates additional capacity and provides greater resilience when maintenance or technical problems affect one machine.

It can also reduce the need to rely on external providers for part of the island's demand.

For an island health system serving both Ibiza and Formentera, maintaining sufficient diagnostic capacity locally is particularly important because geographical factors can make access to healthcare on the mainland more complicated.

The New System Will Be Installed Inside the Existing Hospital

The project does not involve the construction of a separate diagnostic centre.

Instead, the new scanner will be installed within a 150-square-metre area of Can Misses' existing Radiology Department.

The space has been identified and visited by García and Eduardo Escudero, manager of the Ibiza and Formentera Health Area.

The preparation of the area forms part of the overall investment.

Procurement Process Has Already Started

The acquisition has not yet reached the final installation stage.

The health authorities have initiated the tender process covering the purchase, installation works and maintenance of the equipment.

The administration expects the procurement file to be resolved during the first quarter of 2027.

The intention is for the scanner to be installed at Can Misses during that same period, although the final timetable will depend on the progress of the tender and installation process.

Ibiza's Diagnostic Demand Continues to Grow

The MRI figures for the first half of 2026 underline the pressure facing the island's diagnostic services.

An average of almost 29 MRI examinations per day were carried out across the Health Area during the first six months of the year, based on the total reported by the authorities.

Not all of those scans took place inside Can Misses, which explains the continuing role of external providers.

The second scanner should allow the hospital to absorb a greater proportion of that demand directly.

What a 1.5-Tesla MRI Scanner Provides

The 1.5-tesla specification refers to the strength of the magnetic field generated by the scanner.

It is a widely used configuration that offers a balance between image quality, clinical versatility and availability.

The system can generate detailed images of organs and soft tissues without the use of ionising radiation.

Its applications range from neurological and spinal imaging to joint injuries, abdominal conditions and the investigation of suspected tumours.

The technology is therefore suitable for a broad patient population rather than being restricted to a single medical specialty.

Improving Access for Patients in the Pitiusas

For patients in Ibiza and Formentera, increasing MRI capacity could eventually mean greater availability of appointments and less reliance on external arrangements.

The exact impact on waiting times will depend on staffing, scheduling, demand and how the additional capacity is ultimately organised.

The authorities have not announced a specific reduction target for waiting lists linked to the new scanner.

The immediate objective is to expand the hospital's diagnostic capacity so it can handle more of the examinations required by the population it serves.

Can Misses as the Pitiusas' Reference Hospital

Hospital Can Misses is the main public hospital serving Ibiza and Formentera.

Its Radiology Department therefore plays a central role in supporting a wide range of medical specialties across the islands.

Increasing MRI capacity is particularly significant because advanced diagnostic imaging is used across many departments, from emergency and orthopaedic services to neurology, oncology and surgery.

The second scanner is consequently being presented as an investment in the hospital's overall diagnostic infrastructure rather than as a single-specialty project.

The Bigger Picture for Healthcare in Ibiza

The announcement comes as the Balearic health authorities continue to address the challenges of providing specialist medical services to an island population.

Ibiza faces the same issues affecting many healthcare systems, including growing demand, the need for specialised staff and pressure on diagnostic services.

Its island geography adds another layer, making the availability of sophisticated equipment locally particularly valuable.

The investment in a second MRI system is one part of the wider effort to ensure that increasingly complex examinations can be carried out closer to patients' homes.

From One Scanner to Two

The change at Can Misses will be significant in practical terms.

At present, the hospital operates with a single MRI scanner while also relying on external partners for part of the workload.

Once the new system is installed, Can Misses will have two MRI scanners available within its own Radiology Department.

The goal is not simply to double the number of machines, but to create a stronger and more resilient diagnostic service capable of meeting a greater proportion of demand locally.

What Happens Next

The next stage is the procurement process for the equipment, installation works and maintenance contract.

The administration expects the process to be resolved during the first quarter of 2027, with installation planned for the same period.

If the timetable is maintained, patients in Ibiza and Formentera could begin benefiting from increased MRI capacity at Can Misses during the early part of next year.

For a health system that carried out more than 5,200 MRI examinations in just six months, the additional scanner represents a substantial investment in diagnostic infrastructure.

A Major Upgrade for Can Misses' Radiology Service

The arrival of a second MRI scanner will give Hospital Can Misses an important increase in diagnostic capacity.

With an initial investment of €1.3 million, a new 1.5-tesla scanner, a dedicated 150-square-metre installation area and an additional radiologist planned, the project is intended to strengthen one of the hospital's most heavily used specialist services.

For Ibiza and Formentera, the significance goes beyond the technology itself.

More diagnostic capacity means more examinations can potentially be managed within the local public health system, reducing dependence on external support and strengthening Can Misses' role as the reference hospital for the Pitiusas.