When choosing a medical facility that has all the necessary resources to help us cope with an illness, we look at many factors. Most often it is the professionalism of the staff, pricing policy and the ability to go through all the procedures, from diagnostics to recovery, in one center. Treatment and rehabilitation in Spain meets all these criteria, which makes this country extremely popular in the eyes of patients. But before you start preparing your trip, you need to familiarize yourself with all the features of this process, which will help to avoid unnecessary actions.
About medicine in Spain in general
The best indicator of the level of development of the medical sector in the country and the well-being of society as a whole is the highest life expectancy of the Spanish population in comparison with other European countries.
According to the WHO tabloid, Spain ranks 7th in the world for quality of service and achievements in the medical industry as a whole. But the American magazine Newsweek placed it in third place in the world ranking.
Both of these high positions are due to two factors:
- comprehensive state support for both the medical practice itself and the work of clinics, and research activities, the result of which are unique discoveries in the field of medicine;
- focus on training highly qualified personnel. The result of this policy was a serious selection for medical faculties. It is rather difficult to enter a medical specialty here, and only the most gifted candidates have a chance to become a doctor.
With all this, Spanish medicine can be considered a relatively young system. Its active development began only at the end of the 80s of the last century. However, today it has reached that professional and technological level when it is able to provide assistance to any person staying on its territory, regardless of citizenship and social status.
The local healthcare system is especially proud of private medicine:
- most of the centers and hospitals have long since moved away from the wards we are used to, decorated in the style of strictly minimalism, and have converted their premises to the type of hotel rooms, thereby erasing the feeling of being in a hospital;
- work with patients is carried out by specialists with high professional training;
- special attention is paid to equipping wards, operating units and diagnostic rooms.
All this is available at very reasonable prices, which are several times lower than in France, Italy, Germany and even Israel.
Diagnostic stage
Today you can undergo a comprehensive examination in almost any clinic in the kingdom. To do this, many of them offer their patients to choose a specific program, within which all the necessary procedures can be performed within one day. The most popular diagnostic packages are:
- Check-up. The price ranges from 900 to 1500 euros. It includes:
- initial doctor's appointment;
- general analysis of urine and blood;
- computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen;
- respiratory system check;
- examination of an ENT, ophthalmologist;
- consultation with a urologist for men and a gynecologist for women;
- electrocardiogram (ECG);
- ultrasound examination (ultrasound) of the heart;
- gastroscopy and colonoscopy if indicated;
- final consultation with a doctor, issue of recommendations.
- Gynecology package. All together, this can cost from 500 to 800 euros:
- examination on the chair;
- smears for atypia;
- bilateral mammography;
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
- consultation on the results, issue of recommendations.
- Urological examination. Package price in the range of 500-800 euros:
- examination by a specialist;
- Ultrasound of the prostate;
- flowmetry;
- consultation on the results, doctor's recommendations.
Examination by an ophthalmologist:
- study of the eyelids;
- refraction;
- tonometry;
- examination of visual acuity;
- study of the fundus;
- campimetry according to indications;
- issuance of an opinion, consultation on the results, recommendations.
The price of the service is 800-1000 euros.
Each package can be expanded with additional studies if the situation requires it. In this regard, the price may vary significantly. In addition, the cost will depend on the type of disease that the patient is dealing with, if he has already been diagnosed earlier. For example, diagnostics for suspected cancer starts from 3,000 euros.
The cost of treatment in Spanish clinics
Foreigners do not have the opportunity to use free medicine in Spain. But it is also not worth fearing that the treatment will be too expensive. However, it should be borne in mind that prices for different types of procedures can vary greatly and depend on the following factors:
- type of disease;
- method of influencing him;
- type of medical institution;
- the need for surgery and its complexity.
It is also impossible to say exactly what budget needs to be prepared due to the fact that an individual diagnostic, treatment and recovery program is being developed for each patient. We give in the table only approximate prices for different types of procedures:
| Service type | Price in EUR |
|---|---|
| Laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis | From 4000 |
| Hysterectomy | From 10000 |
| Surgery for detecting fibroadenoma of the mammary glands | From 3000 |
| Cesarean section | From 5000 |
| Operation in the presence of cataracts | From 3000 |
| Removal of herniated disc | From 10500 |
| Rhinoplasty | From 4000 |
| Removal of kidney stones | From 7500 |
| Diagnosis and treatment of hemorrhoids by surgery | From 3800 |
Please note that the figures quoted may differ depending on which clinic in Barcelona, Valencia or Madrid you choose to use. You can find out more accurate information by sending a letter to the e-mail of a medical institution.
Choosing a clinic
There are a lot of advantages that speak in favor of choosing a Spanish medical institution:
- high-quality treatment, diagnostics and rehabilitation procedures;
- professionalism of medical personnel;
- excellent technical equipment of clinics;
- affordable prices;
- healthy Mediterranean climate;
- a variety of natural resources (thermal springs, sea water, therapeutic mud, etc.), which accelerate the recovery process after all types of treatment.
You need to choose a clinic according to its specialization. Most of the centers in the country are multidisciplinary institutions, but with a few leading branches. For example, Teknon Clinic (Barcelona) deals with oncology, traumatology, cardiology, but neurosurgery and cardiac surgery are considered the leading areas here.
Along with such centers in Spain, there are quite a few narrow-profile institutions. For example:
- Quiron - the leading cancer center in the kingdom;
- Planas - center for plastic and aesthetic medicine;
- Sala Planell - Institute of Vascular Surgery;
- Sant Joan de Deu is a children's clinic.
The choice of a clinic can be influenced by its location. Most of them are located in picturesque places in Spain or where the most famous local attractions are concentrated.
For example, most of the "flagships" of Spanish medicine are located in Barcelona, which is famous not only for its enormous achievements in the treatment of many diseases, but also for being the main tourist center of the country.This means that staying in one of the local clinics will cost more than in Madrid.
Features of rehabilitation in Spain
Patients of clinics specializing in rehabilitation are most often people who have experienced such unpleasant events as injuries, surgeries, and strokes. This need arises as a result of a long stay without movement. A correctly selected course makes it possible to return to its former activity and habitual way of life. If full recovery is not possible, the specialists of the centers help their wards to learn to live in new conditions and overcome moral difficulties in perceiving “new” themselves.
The warm mild climate, the healing properties of sea water, clean air, thermal springs and the benevolence of the Spaniards themselves largely contribute to the rapid recovery in the territory of Spain.
All centers that offer to undergo a course of treatment with them specialize in a certain direction: some of them help only adults to return to normal, others work exclusively with children.
In addition, all institutions are divided according to their profile into several groups:
- rehabilitation centers for alcohol and drug addicted patients;
- neurological hospitals (patients with Parkinson's disease, head injuries, spine injuries come here);
- sports rehabilitation centers;
- clinics that deal with problems of the musculoskeletal system;
- centers of dietetics, weight loss, therapeutic fasting and detoxification.
There are those who specialize in restoring mental balance, getting rid of depression, the results of stressful situations, strenuous work.
No matter what the hospital does, a whole team of specialists, including psychologists, usually works with each patient. For each person arriving at the clinic, an individual program is developed that assumes physical activity (a specially compiled set of exercises), and a certain principle of nutrition, and sea, mud and sun baths, and other methods of thalassotherapy. The length of stay in such centers depends on the complexity of the problem to be solved by the specialists.
Where can I go
When choosing a medical institution, it will not be superfluous to look at its website, read reviews and, possibly, even get an online consultation with the support service. To be sure, compare prices in several centers. Find out what methodology is used to restore, what specialists work in this institution.
In any case, before a choice is made, you must have complete information on all issues of the upcoming process. But first, it will be useful to get acquainted with a small overview of the main rehabilitation centers in the country.
Clinica San Vicente in Madrid
The San Vicente Clinic was founded in 1994 and at the time of its creation was a “pioneer” in the field of rehabilitation. Today it is not just a medical institution, it is also a scientific center that conducts research and offers recovery programs for patients with impaired brain activity caused by various neurological diseases.
The building of the center covers an area of 3000 sq.m. At the service of patients:
- 72 rooms;
- examination rooms;
- consulting rooms;
- ultrasound rooms;
- neurophysiological laboratory;
- gym;
- rooms for working with patients with speech impairments and much more.
The leading departments are:
- orthopedic;
- neurological
- psychiatric;
- Department of Dietetics;
- clinical neurophysiology.
The center has everything necessary to restore the function of the patient's musculoskeletal system and other basic vital skills.
Rehabilitation center "Infantil"
Clinica de Rehabilitation Infantil, located in the Spanish capital, is the best medical institution in the country in the field of physiotherapy for children. The main direction of his activity is the treatment of newborn babies with a diagnosis of pathology of motor function that arose as a result of disorders of the central nervous system or the musculoskeletal system.
The equipment of the clinic allows specialists to carry out high-quality diagnostics and provide effective treatment at the highest level. They treat here such diseases as:
- traumatic brain injury;
- birth trauma;
- abnormal development of the limbs.
The specialists of the center manage to achieve excellent results due to the development of an individual program for each ward.
Center for Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
There are about 15 medical institutions in the country, whose activities are focused on sports rehabilitation. Centro de rehabilitacíon y medicina del deporte is located in Barcelona. Its patients are people who have been injured as a result of sports or other activities and who can be restored to mobility with the help of physical medicine.
Over the 25 years of its operation, the clinic has achieved tremendous results in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders in the musculoskeletal system caused by accidents, diseases of the nervous, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems. The effectiveness of all procedures is achieved through the use of advanced equipment and innovative recovery techniques.
Calatea drug addiction rehabilitation center
Spain can be considered the best place for rehabilitation even when it comes to patients who want to get rid of drug and alcohol addiction. According to statistics, about 70% of people who turned to local centers for help were able to prevent the dangerous consequences of their illness.
One of the leading clinics in this area is Calatea, which is located in the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona. Here, the following conditions are effectively affected:
- alcoholism;
- addiction;
- depression;
- anxiety.
Aleka Children's Rehabilitation Center
Another clinic that deals with diseases of the motor system in children is the Alec Physiotherapy Center (Centro De Fisioterapia Aleka), which is located in the Spanish capital Madrid. Little patients come here with the following diseases:
- autism;
- Cerebral palsy;
- disorders of the musculoskeletal system;
- Down syndrome.
The use of the latest technological developments in this area allows the doctors of the center to achieve incredible results in influencing these diseases. The clinic gladly accepts patients from abroad.
Clinic Vall d'Hebron (Barcelona)
Today this institution is one of the largest centers that deals with the problems of children's rehabilitation. The clinic has a unique technical base.
Professional medical personnel specialize in the following areas:
- oncological diseases;
- cerebral palsy;
- chromosomal abnormalities;
- congenital defects and metabolic disorders in the body;
- diseases of the nervous system;
- deviations in the work of the musculoskeletal system;
- developmental delays;
- muscle atrophy, etc.
- leukemia;
- epilepsy.
We leave for childbirth in Spain
High-quality service and a high level of medicine attracts couples to Spain who are preparing to become parents or dream that the miracle of conception will still happen, even if artificially.
If you decide to be monitored in a Spanish clinic from the very first trimester, then you will not need any medical documents. But if you register at a later date, then be sure to bring with you a pregnancy management card issued at home, which should contain the results of all previous examinations, including ultrasound. This document must be translated into Spanish.
There are many medical centers in Spain that deal with issues of infertility and artificial insemination, treatment of female diseases, and pregnancy management.
All of them are ready to help your baby to be born. Many factors speak in favor of Spain in this case:
- individual programs of work with each woman, regardless of the question she is addressing. Often this is a teamwork of gynecologists, endocrinologists, psychologists and nutritionists;
- free access of relatives to the patient;
- liberal prices;
- with insurance and registration in the country, you can count on free delivery.
How to organize a trip to Spain for treatment or rehabilitation
So, you have decided that you intend to restore your health or get medical treatment in one of the Spanish clinics. In this case, you should know how to properly organize the trip. There can be two options for resolving the issue:
- Contacting a company that deals with medical tourism, more precisely, plays the role of an intermediary between you and the clinic.
- Take care of all the preparatory formalities yourself.
In the first case, you will have to increase the travel budget, since the company will certainly ask for a reward for its services, saving you from solving many problems:
- search for a medical facility;
- translation of documents;
- search for a translator;
- selection of housing;
- registration of a visa permit.
The path "without intermediaries" promises significant cost savings, but many problems will have to be solved on their own. But do not panic - everything is not so difficult, just adhere to the following algorithm of actions:
- Find a medical center that specializes in solving your problem.
- Send a letter to the administration of the clinic, enclosing a medical history and test results translated into Spanish or English.
- Wait for a response from the clinic.
- Pay your invoice.
- Get an invitation from the clinic.
The last document will be needed for a visit to the consulate, where you are going to apply for a visa. Do not forget to take care of tickets, place of residence (if outpatient treatment is expected), an interpreter, transfer and finances sufficient for the entire period of your stay in the kingdom.
What to look for when buying medicines in Spain
Today, there are about 21 thousand pharmacies operating in the country. The recognizable green cross (an identification mark for drugstores) can be found on almost every street in any locality. However, the number of such points of sale of medicines is strictly regulated by the state. Each of them should serve 2.8-4 thousand residents.
Despite the fact that the pharmaceutical business generates good income and is highly regarded in the business community, it is rather difficult to open a pharmacy in Spain. Only a person with a pharmacist diploma can become the owner of a pharmacy, while he can manage only one retail outlet of this format. It is for this reason that there are no network pharmacies in the country.
Pharmacies work from 9.30 to 14.00 and from 16.30 to 20.00. At the same time, all residents of the country know that if the door of the pharmacy is closed, it will always indicate the address and phone number of the nearest pharmacy on duty.
If the pharmacy does not have the drug you need, you can order and receive it in 3-4 hours.
The online sale of over-the-counter medicines was allowed in Spain in 2021. However, this is possible only if the pharmacy, in addition to the virtual one, also has a physical representation, as well as a special permit for the sale of drugs for which a doctor's prescription is not required.
In addition, Spanish pharmacies cannot sell drugs at discounts or promotions. There is a single price for all medicines in the country.
Outcomes
The Spanish kingdom is today the most demanded and financially profitable destination for medical tourism. This is facilitated by government support for local medicine, technological progress and the training of highly qualified personnel. At the same time, the prices for diagnostics, treatment and recovery from an illness here are an order of magnitude lower than in neighboring European countries.
The choice of clinic depends on the problem to be solved and on the travel budget. There are a lot of highly specialized centers in the country that develop individual programs for their patients.
A bonus for those who choose Spain as a place to recover their health are its natural resources, warm climate, picturesque landscapes and friendly attitude of the local population.
