· 
· 
Introduction to the Spanish National Health System
The Spanish National Health System is the coordinated system of the health service
of the State Administration and the health services of the Autonomous Regions.
It comprises all functions and aspects of public health care delivery, which
is responsibility of the public authorities, at the service of the citizens’
health.
Its most important features are the universal right to medical care (covering approximately 99.4% of population), public financing and the decentralisation of its management in the regional governments.
Each Autonomous Region has a health care service made up of the health centres, services and establishments of the Autonomous Region, Delegation, City Council and any other territorial administration within the Autonomous Region.
Each and every single member of the population residing in Spain, irrespective of their nationality, has a right to health and medical care. This means that the full 100% of the Spanish population is covered by the Spanish National Health Care System.
After completion of the transfer process of the health care competences to the Autonomous Regions, all aspects of medical care and public health service delivery in Spain will be handled by the Health Services of the Autonomous Regions and, in Ceuta and Melilla, by the National Health Management Institute (INGESA). All health care issues, which until recently were considered to be a State responsibility, are now managed by the Autonomous Regions. This means that all Spanish residents, in case of need for medical care, must contact the corresponding organisation in their Autonomous Region of residence. The web page of the Ministry of Health and Consumption, (http://www.msc.es/ciudadanos/prestaciones/home.htm), provides a list of the health care centres in your Autonomous Region of residence.
Address of the Ministry of Health and Consumption:
Pº del Prado 18-20 (planta baja) 28014 – Madrid
Telephone: 901 40 01 00
www.msc.es
Address of the National Health Management Institute (INGESA):
C/ Alcalá, 56 – 28014 Madrid
Tel.: 91 338 00 06 / 07
www.ingesa.msc.es
The web page of the Ministry of Public Administrations, www.igsap.map.es/ccaa/ccaa.htm provides information on the responsible organisations and information centres for each Autonomous Region.
Foreigners’ rights
All foreign nationals who are going to work or are already working in Spain
and are contributing to Spanish Social Security (a certain amount is money is
deducted from their salary) will receive a medical card with their personal
details and social security number. Once you have received your Social Security
Affiliation Card, you can apply for an Individual Health Care Card at you nearest
health centre. Holders of this card are entitled to receive free medical care
and hospital treatment for themselves and their families. The Spanish Health
Care System covers 60% of prescription drug costs. The remaining 40% must be
paid by the patients themselves. As far as dental treatment is concerned, Social
Security only covers extractions.
To receive medical assistance in case of accident or illness, it is recommended you contact the corresponding Social Security organisation in your home country before coming to Spain, in order to get a European Health Card (EHC).
If you want to have private insurance, you can buy a private insurance policy in your home country, which covers your stay in Spain, or from any of the private insurance companies established in Spain. Please take into account that most insurance companies require a waiting period of several months to one year before the insurance becomes effective, especially in cases of maternity or surgical interventions. Below is a short list of the main private insurance companies. For a more detailed list, please visit the following web: page www.encuentrahora.com/seguro.html or check the Yellow Pages under “seguros”, “sociedades médicas” or “seguros médicos”.
- ADESLAS
Príncipe de Vergara, 110 - 28002 Madrid – Tel.: 902 200 200
www.adeslas.es
- ASISA
C/ Juan Ignacio Luca de Tena, 10 – 28027 Madrid – Tel.: 799 99 00
www.asisa.es
- MAPFRE Caja Salud
Pº de Recoletos, 29 - 28004 Madrid – Tel.: 902 20 40 60
www.cajamadrid.es/CajaMadrid/Home/cruce/0,5699,200_10191*92,00.html
www.mapfre.com
- SANITAS
www.sanitas.es (information available in Spanish and English)
c/ Rivera del Loira, 52 – 28042 Madrid – Tel.: 902 10 24 00
Before taking out a private insurance, it is advisable to compare prices as some of these companies charge a consultation fee in addition to the monthly or yearly subscription fee. It is also important to know if your health insurance provides national and international coverage. Some insurance companies allow you to be treated by the doctor of your choice upon payment of the corresponding additional fees.
In Spain, medicines can only be bought at chemists. You are generally required to provide a medicine prescription issued by the doctor responsible for your medical care. Opening hours for chemists are the same as other businesses. Some chemists open on weekends (you can find a list of “on duty” chemists displayed on the door of your chemist’s). Many chemist’s shops have recently extended their opening hours to 12-24 hours a day. When you need a medicine, your chemist can offer you, apart from the commercial brands, generic medicines that are substantially less expensive than the original and have the same active ingredients. Homeopathic products are also available at the chemist’s shops. Some health food shops sell alternative natural medicines.
The web page of the General Council of Pharmaceutical Colleges (www.portalfarma.com) provides plenty of useful information on the Spanish pharmaceutical system.
