The Mataró public television station, 'tvmataró', has received the Premi Nacional de Comunicació de Proximitat for its docuseries 'Hospital de proximitat' (Proximity Hospital). This production brought the workings of the Catalan healthcare system closer to the public through real stories filmed in various Catalan hospitals. The award will be presented on 19 May in Sabadell.
The jury praised the project's ability to “sensitively bring the reality of the healthcare system to viewers, giving a voice to both professionals and patients from hospitals across Catalonia.” This honorary recognition values projects that promote local communication, rooted in the territory and with social impact.
“'Hospital de proximitat' is a local production of national interest because it places Mataró in the context of Catalonia. It puts the city at the centre, with everything else revolving around it. This award recognises the talent and commitment of 'tvmataró' professionals to serve through public television,” Oriol Burgada, director-manager of 'tvmataró' and co-director of the series, explained on social media. The team also includes David Figueroa (director), Anna Martínez (head of production), and Glòria Trullàs (executive producer for La Xarxa).
Series Focuses on Local Healthcare
'Hospital de proximitat' is a two-season documentary series with 24 half-hour episodes. The Hospital Universitari de Mataró serves as its narrative epicentre. From there, the production expanded to other healthcare centres such as Calella, Granollers, Tarragona, Reus, Lleida, La Seu d’Urgell, and Girona, showing the daily reality of these local hospitals. The production was made possible through a collaboration between 'tvmataró' and 'La Xarxa', with support from the Department of Salut of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
The series aired on local television stations and the OTT platform LaXarxa+. It also reached RTVE, which acquired the series and distributed it via RTVE Play. A significant challenge for the project was maintaining an invisible camera presence to capture real hospital life without interference. The series shows moments of high emotional intensity, including births, emergencies, illness processes, and even the transfer of deceased individuals. It maintains a respectful approach, without an off-screen narrator, allowing the protagonists to lead each episode.
According to the team, the goal is to humanise both patients and healthcare professionals, showing the value of the public health system and its impact on daily life. “The challenges of local television have never been easy. They are not now either, but we live in a world full of opportunities. Distribution through our OTT and access to technology make the talent of professionals more visible than ever today. This award moves and embarrasses us, because it is only a small part of the great quality offering of local production in Catalonia,” Burgada continued on social media.
Previous Accolades and Future Plans
The Premi Nacional de Comunicació adds to two other significant awards in the Catalan and Spanish audiovisual sector for 'Hospital de proximitat'. It previously received the Premi Zàpping and later the Premi Zoom, where 'tvmataró' competed against entries from 3cat, Movistar+, TVE, and other international broadcasters. Additionally, 'tvmataró' was recognised as the best local television station in Catalonia in 2023.
The Premis Nacionals de Comunicació, established in 1999, recognise projects in areas such as television, radio, press, the digital environment, and advertising, alongside an Honorary Award for distinguished careers. In this context, 'Hospital de proximitat' stands as an example of local audiovisual production with national reach, combining public service, narrative innovation, and multi-platform distribution. The award ceremony will take place on Tuesday, 19 May, in Sabadell, presided over by the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, and the Minister of the Presidency, Albert Dalmau.
