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The Spanish Health System: A system for everyone

Monday, 23 June, 2008

A study performed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the health systems of its 190 member countries shows that the Spanish health system is the 7th best in the world. Countries like Holland, the UK and Ireland hold the 17th, 18th and 19th positions respectively in this world ranking.

A number of factors contribute to the Spanish health system being rated as one of the best. These include the universal nature of the system, which guarantees that everyone, regardless of their nationality, has the right to health and medical care. Foreign citizens have the same rights to medical care as anyone else in the country, although this principle of universality involves some simple formalities.

Tourists from the European Union have automatic access to free health care in Spain and only need to have a European Health Insurance Card, which they can request at their Health Centre before starting their holiday and is valid for 1 to 5 years, depending on the country in which it is issued.

In the case of European pensioners who live for most of the year in Spain, they should request form E121 in their country of origin which transfers their health rights from their country to the Spanish system, where they will be guaranteed full health care. This process means that, in addition to quality primary and specialist health care, European pensioners also benefit from free pharmaceutical products.

Another factor which makes Spain's health system one of the best in the world is the country's highly qualified medical professionals. Doctors require an average of 10 years to complete their training and medical schools only accept the very best secondary school students. The country's nurses are also considered to be the best trained in Europe thanks to their university qualification, which enables them to take responsibilites which lighten the load of the doctors' work and help to improve the operation of the entire system.

In short, Spain continues to be a country
which offers all the guarantees necessary to make it an ideal part of
the world in which to retire or take a holiday. The benfits of the
Mediterranean diet and climate combined with good health mean that
Spain offers an excellent level of wellbeing.

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