Spanish Healthcare System

Spain has a public (national) health care system which provides free or low cost health care for those contributing to Spanish social security systems and their dependants. The system also caters for pensioners and includes those from other EU countries. There are also Accident and Emergency services available at hospitals and some health centers.

The Spanish National Health Service has an extensive network of health centers and hospitals throughout the country. The Spanish health-care system is excellent; it is one of the best healthcare systems in the world. In the tourist resorts you will find many new hospitals, modern and well-equipped. The doctors and pediatricians are excellent. 85-90% of the population uses this system for their medical needs. This plan allows Spaniards to choose their primary care doctor, through which they can access the rest of the system (except in the case of emergencies). Unfortunately, there can be long waiting lists to see specialists and for elective and non-emergency surgical care.

While Spanish nurses are well-trained and efficient, they simply do not perform many of the duties carried out by European nurses. Many tasks such as personal care and feeding are carried out by the patient’s family. All hospitals allow one companion to be with the patient 24 hours a day. Visiting times vary for other visitors.

However standards vary across the country with public medicine. Spain takes a different view to rehabilitation, convalescence and terminal illness, leaving care in these cases usually to the relatives. There are very few public nursing and retirement homes, very few hospices and convalescence homes.

Private Health Care in Spain

Alongside the State health system Spain also has an excellent system of private medicine, especially in the tourist areas. There are many English speaking health practitioners.

The advantage of private insurance is that the companies have their own network of hospitals, clinics and laboratories. Policyholders usually do not have to wait as long for treatment. The only downside is that these companies can insist that patients use only doctors who are members of their group. However, most have programs that refund 80% of the fees charged by physicians outside the group.

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