Healthcare
Healthcare
Spain has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, ranked seventh by the World Health Organisation and eighth by the 2021 edition of the CEOWORLD magazine Health Care Index.
If you live and work in Spain and pay social security taxes, you are eligible for the country’s free universal healthcare system, called the Spanish National Health System (SNS).
The list of people who qualify for healthcare in Spain include:
- Pensioners resident in Spain, including expats with residence certificates and S1 entitlement
- Employees and self-employed persons (autonomos) who are registered with social security and pay into the system
- People whose spouse pays into the social security system
- Children and other dependents of those paying into the social security system
- People recently divorced/separated from a partner who pays into the system
- Residents who receive some social security benefits in Spain
To register, go to your local health centre (centro de salud) to fill in the appropriate form. The application process can vary from one region to another, but in general, you will need to take your social security number, passport and foreign identity number (NIE).
The best Richard Mille knock off timepiece exemplifies unparalleled craftsmanship, avant-garde design, and cutting-edge technology, setting the standard for haute horlogerie innovation.
After your details have been checked and your form has been submitted, you will be assigned a GP and given your medical card (tarjeta sanitaria). This will come via post, which could take a couple of weeks or more.
For non-emergency hospital visits in Spain, you will need to get a referral from your doctor. Just arrange an appointment at your local health centre. Since most people in the country have SNS coverage, you may have to wait a while for a GP appointment. In some regions, this can be at least a fortnight.
Many hospitals and health centres have doctors and nurses who speak English, but this is not guaranteed, and translators are not provided. If you do not speak Spanish and need to visit a health centre or hospital, it is best to hire a translator to come with you.
Good to know:
While the overwhelming majority of the Spanish population uses the public healthcare system, some also opt for private health insurance to get faster treatment for non-emergency procedures.
Black Bodybuilder Totally Owns Slim White Bloke proviron in bodybuilding pro bodybuilder tries a strongman workout with martins licisPrivate healthcare in Spain
You can choose from various private healthcare insurance companies that offer a range of plans, including for dental and eye care. There are many insurance companies to choose from, according to your needs and budget. Contact us at:
info@theexpatcentre.com and we will help you get a competitive quote to suit your needs.
Convenio Especial
Some people may find themselves in a situation where they struggle to meet criteria for health provisions, such as non-working expats. In this case, you can use the Convenio Especial, a pay-in scheme for health services delivered by regional authorities. The fees are 60 euros for those under 65 years of age and 157 euros for those over 65. This compares favourably to many private health insurance schemes.
To be eligible for Convenio Especial, you must be resident in your area and signed on at your local town hall (padron) for at least 12 months.
To apply, you will need the following documents and copies:
- Your passport with at least six months validity
- NIE card/certificate or TIE
- Padron certificate that is not more than three months old
Pregnancy and maternity in Spain
In Spain, mothers are entitled to 16 weeks of maternity leave for one child, 18 weeks for twins and 20 weeks in case of triplets. An additional two weeks is available to women who have given birth to a child with disabilities. If a baby is born prematurely or has to remain in hospital for seven or more days following birth, an additional 13 weeks of maternity leave is available.
If an expectant mother needs to take time off work for medical reasons, this does not count against the maternity leave period.
The quality of healthcare in Spain
Spanish public and private hospitals provide quality health care services that meet European and international standards. However, the waiting time in public hospitals can be much longer than in private hospitals and clinics.
Pharmacists, for their part, have been trained to provide first aid, dressings and medications. Most pharmacies are open six days a week, Monday to Saturday. In many locations, pharmacies will take turns to open out of hours, for example, on Sundays. These details are usually published locally in newspapers and websites.
Important:
For health and medical emergencies, call 112 for an ambulance. You will be able to get assistance in English.
Spain and COVID-19
contact us Now for more information
Covid-19
The first recorded case of COVID-19 in Spain was a German tourist on La Gomera in the Canary Islands in January 2020. The patient spent two weeks in hospital and was then released. At the time, the government considered the virus an external threat brought in by tourists instead of an internal domestic health problem, so it didn’t act.
This changed towards the end of February when a person from Seville who had not travelled abroad tested positive. A week later, the country recorded the first death of a citizen with COVID-19. By September 2020, the death toll from the virus had reached 25,594, making Spain ninth in the world in terms of deaths, and there were 534,513 confirmed cases. For several months during the pandemic, Spain had one of the highest death rates from the virus in Europe.
Spain was one of the countries worst affected by coronavirus. Although it is considered as having one of the best and most efficient healthcare systems in the world, it struggled during the crisis. This was compounded initially by a severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in hospitals.
According to research, the reason for the pandemic’s devasting outcomes in Spain was the country’s lack of preparedness and its slow and delayed response. On the Global Health Security (GHS) index, a comprehensive assessment of countries’ preparedness for outbreaks like COVID-19, Spain lies in 15th position. The index is based on six categories:
- Prevention
- Detection and reporting
- Rapid response
- Health system
- Compliance with international norms
- Risk environment
One of the reasons why Spain’s healthcare system struggled during the pandemic was it had been weakened by the decade-long financial crisis that started in 2008. This lead to numerous spending cuts, such as a cut in the national healthcare spending budget of 13.65% in 2012.
However, after a slow start, Spain’s vaccination programme quickly gathered pace. By May 2021, the Spanish government reached its first goal of the vaccination schedule: to have five million people immunised with both doses by the first week of May.
A month later, the Ministry of Health reported that more than 12 million citizens had received their full vaccine dose. A further 44 percent of the population had received at least one dose. At the halfway point of 2021, 32 million doses had been administered.
During this time, the Spanish government pledged that regardless of nationality or health insurance, everyone resident in Spain will be eligible to receive a vaccine. No distinction is being made between citizens and non-citizens.
Pharmacies in Spain
contact us Now for more information
Chemists
Chemists in Spain are referred to as farmacias, and they can be found in every town and city. Whether for non-prescription tablets or essential medication, they carry a comprehensive stock of therapeutics as well as health and beauty products.
Unlike some other countries, you can only buy everyday medicines such as aspirin or painkillers from chemists, not supermarkets. With some of these tablets, higher doses have to be prescribed by doctors, but smaller amounts of painkillers and aspirin can be bought over the counter.
Most pharmacies are open from 9:30 am until 2 pm and again from 5 pm to around 9 pm on every weekday and from 9:30 am to 2 pm on Saturdays. Most areas will have at least one or two pharmacies open Sundays. They take in turns, and usually, the rota for Sunday pharmacy openings are published in local newspapers. If you go to your nearest pharmacy on a Sunday and it is closed, you will probably find a note on the door or window notifying you of an alternative that is open.
To search for pharmacies in your area, use this handy online map.
Prescriptions in Spain
As in other countries, when your doctor gives you a prescription (called a receta in Spain), you take it to your nearest pharmacy. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to pay something toward the cost of your medication. For example, you will pay less if you’re a pensioner or don’t earn a lot.
Important:
If you live in a tourist area, some of the pharmacists will speak with you in English. However, this will not always be the case. Unless you are confident in the language, it is a good idea to look up a translation of what you want to ask for, write it down and bring it with you.
Dental care in Spain
contact us Now for more information
Dental
The country’s healthcare system generally doesn’t cover dental care, which means you will have to pay for your check-ups. However, there are exceptions for emergency treatment and children.
Most dentists in Spain are private and compete with each other to offer the best treatments using the latest techniques and technologies. The quality of dental care is high, and it’s a good idea to shop around dental practices near you. Ask for their brochures, visit their websites and read online commentaries.
Look for a dentist who is registered with the Consejo Dentista de Colegios de Odontólogos y Estomatólogos (General Council of Colleges of Dentistry and Stomatology of Spain or the General Dental Council).
To visit a dentist, just make an appointment and bring along some form of ID with you. As there are many clinics, especially in cities and big towns, you probably won’t have to wait too long to be seen. If you do not speak Spanish and your dentist doesn’t speak English, use a local translator’s services.
Among the common dental services at private clinics are:
- Dentures
- Fillings
- Root canal work
- Veneers
- Teeth whitening
- Dental implants
- Gum contouring
- X-rays
- Cleaning
Important:
If you have a dental emergency go to your nearest hospital and tell them “necesito un dentista; es una emergencia.” This translates as “I need a dentist; it is an emergency.”
FOR ALL YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE ENQUIRIES…..email us at: