Medical Treatment in Spain
The Spanish government is not engaged in
the active development of health tourism. Nevertheless, the quality of the
Spanish health care system, hospital equipment and reasonable prices are
attracting an increasing number of foreign patients from the British Isles, as
well as from countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
Due to the problem of rising prices for medicine and long lines in the UK and
Ireland, residents of these countries travel abroad for treatment, and Spain is
one of the most popular options.
Health care system in Spain
According to a ranking published by the World Health
Organization (WHO), the Spanish health care system ranked seventh in the world. In
this case, the Spaniards are in second place for satisfaction with the quality
of medical services. In Spain there are more than 750 hospitals with
450,000 doctors and nurses. All hospitals in Spain are certified by
the Ministry of Health of Spain and are under its supervision.
Doctors in Spain receive a diploma and qualification not less than 6-7 years of
study. To obtain a specialization (for example, a surgeon), several more
years of study and practice are necessary, and only after that the
corresponding certificates and licenses are issued.
In Spain, there are several medical institutions (both private and public) with
special departments to serve foreign patients. At their service are
English-speaking doctors and medical staff who have received a high-quality
education and interned at institutions recognized by the European Union and the
General Medical Council of Great Britain. Thanks to their high rates,
Spanish hospitals are on par with the rest of Western Europe.
The country has 18 medical institutions accredited by the Joint
International Commission for Accreditation of Medical Institutions. Such
institutions are also accredited by Fundacion Avedis Donabedian. (FAD) – Partner
of the Joint International Commission on Accreditation. Most of the
medical institutions that have such accreditation are full-fledged hospitals,
while the rest offer outpatient or supplementary service programs.
Leading hospitals and clinics in Spain for medical tourism
- Cento Medico Teknon – Barcelona
- Catalan General Hospital “Kapio” – Barcelona
- Hospital Universitario de Madrid – Madrid
- Hospital Quiron Barcelona – Barcelona
- Vithas Xanit International Hospital – Malaga
- HM Hospitales – Madrid
- Sanitas Hospitales – Madrid
List of procedures for tourist patients in Spain
Hospitals and medical facilities in Spain offer high-quality procedures and services for patient tourists, including complex medical procedures and treatment. Among them:
- General Dentistry and Cosmetic Dentistry
- Plastic surgery
- Elective surgery
- Orthopedic surgery
- Ophthalmic surgery
- Surgical treatment of obesity
- Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Infertility Treatment
The cost of medical procedures in Spain
It is estimated that, on average, tourist patients from the USA, UK and Africa can expect savings of 30-70% in many procedures. Below is a comparative table of prices for medical procedures in Spain and equivalent procedures in the UK:
| Medical procedures | |||
| Procedure | UK hospitals | Spain | Average savings |
| Hip replacement | £ 12,000 | £ 4,800 | 60% |
| Complete knee replacement | £ 9,000 – £ 10,000 | £ 6,000 – £ 7,000 | 30% – 33% |
| Arthroscopy | £ 3,150 | £ 658 | 79% |
| Carpal tunneling | £ 1,500 | £ 1,072 | 28% |
| Hip Joint End prosthetics | £ 13,100 | £ 6,000 | 54% |
| Plastic and reconstructive surgery | |||
| Procedure | UK hospitals | Spain | Average savings |
| Facelift (retidectomy) | £ 7,300 | £ 4,500 | 38% |
| Breast augmentation (mammoplasty) | £ 3000 – £ 5000 | £ 3,000 – £ 3,500 | 20% – 35% |
| Breast reduction | £ 6,900 | £ 3,500 | 49% |
| Breast lift | £ 5,300 | £ 3,200 | 39% |
| Buttock lift | £ 4,000 – £ 4,500 | £ 3,800 – £ 4,300 | 4% – 5% |
| Liposuction | £ 3,000 – £ 4,000 | £ 1,500 – £ 2,000 | 40% – 50% |
| Nasal Surgery (Rhinoplasty) | £ 3,000 – £ 3,800 | £ 2,400 – £ 2,800 | 20% – 26% |
| Abdominoplasty | £ 4,500 – £ 5,000 | £ 3,500 – £ 4,000 | 20% – 22% |
| General and cosmetic dentistry | |||
| Procedure | UK hospitals | Spain | Average savings |
| Gold crowns | £ 450 – £ 500 | £ 250 – £ 300 | 40% – 44% |
| Dental implants (Branemark system) | £ 1,800 – £ 2,000 | £ 700 – £ 750 | 11% – 61% |
| Root canal treatment (single canal) | £ 200 – £ 250 | £ 80 – £ 100 | 10% – 60% |
| Teeth whitening (Britesmile method) | £ 550 – £ 600 | £ 300 – £ 350 | 41% – 45% |
Laws on medical errors and liability in Spain
The National Medical Association in Spain has introduced laws on liability for medical errors established by the World Medical Association. In Spain, public hospitals, medical centers and doctors receive financial support from private insurance companies.
According to the data of 2009, there was no insurance system for private doctors and hospitals in the country, and compensation for damage from a medical error was carried out directly by the medical institution.
Benefits
· Exemplary Healthcare System
The Spanish health care system ranks 7th in the world (according to the report of the World Health Organization)
· Reasonable prices for room and board
Spain is a country with an inexpensive standard of living, as a result of which the costs of transportation, hospital and hotel are low.
· Ease of movement
Spain is a highly developed country, with modern and convenient airports, roads and trains.
· Resting place
Spain offers excellent food and relaxation, which helps patients recover from treatments and procedures.
Disadvantages
· Prices
Prices for medical procedures are higher compared to countries in Asia and Eastern Europe.
· Nurse Responsibilities
Spanish nurses, being highly qualified and efficient, do not fulfil those duties that are accepted among nurses in other countries, such as personal care and feeding. For this reason, in all hospitals in Spain allow the stay of at least one person who would be next to the patient 24 hours a day.
Trip to Spain
From the major cities of Europe, the countries of the Middle East and the Mediterranean, there are several direct flights to Spain. There are also trains from most European cities.
Entry and exit requirements
Patients who come to Spain from EU member states do not need a visa to enter the country. They need to submit a document confirming their nationality, for example, a foreign or internal passport.
Tourist patients who arrive in Spain from Africa, Asia and the countries of the Middle East must apply for a visa at the Spanish embassy in their country prior to entry.
Patients who arrive from the USA and Canada can stay in the country for 3 months without a visa.
Statistics of medical tourism in Spain
The number of patient tourists in Spain is expected to increase to 200,000 this year. Today, the country makes large investments in this sector, attracting visitors from the EU, Russia, Morocco and the USA.