This library co-operation and co-ordination project was started in 2002 by the health libraries of the Regional Health System of Madrid. Its background --including the completion of the transfer of health responsibilities from the central government to the autonomic government, the creation of the "Laín Entralgo Agency for Training, Research and Health Studies" as well as the creation within the Agency of the "Committee of Health Libraries"-- are described in this paper. Furthermore, the achievements of this consortium (sharing electronic collections, common patron training programmes and digital library) are also explained.