Spanish healthcare system

[and-justice-for-all]

How does the Spanish healthcare system work?

The Spanish National Health Service has an extensive network of health centres and hospitals throughout the country.

The health centres offer primary health care services (family/GP services, paediatrics and nursing, with availability of midwives, physiotherapists and social workers). They are aimed to be located within 15 minutes of any place of residence. If circumstances require, medical attention can be given at the patient’s residence.

Also, in rural areas and in small villages there are local surgeries open on certain days with visits from healthcare staff from the region.

Hospitals offer specialised attention, with access via referral from primary healthcare services. There are also Accident and Emergency services available at hospitals and some health centres.

You can check hospitals and health centres in Spain at the website of the Ministry of Health.
http://www.msc.es/ciudadanos/prestaciones/centrosServiciosSNS/home.htm

http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/Informacion+practica/Consejos+Practicos/Salud+y+seguridad/0/Como+funciona+la+asistencia+sanitario+en+Espana?Language=en

[CTyankee]

1. Isn't this just awful? Socialized medicine!

No wonder all those people from Spain are coming over to the U.S. to get our health care...

Oh, wait...

[dflprincess]

2. It makes one think of all those Swedes storming our embassy in Stockholm

begging for refugee status so they can escape their socialist hell hole for our free market utopia.

[paulsby]

3. i don't see either

1) a lot of swedes clamoring to become US citizens

OR

2) a lot of US citizens clamoring to become swedish citizens.

[dflprincess]

5. Apparent;ly I needed the sarcasm icon

no - there aren't many Swedes (or other Europeans) banging on our door begging to be let in.

Sweden has fairly strict immigration laws; unless you are seeking asylum it's best you have to have a job skill needed in the country and preference is given to people from EU countries. Bonus points if you know the language.

[CTyankee]

7. I have a friend, an American, who is married to a man originally from Sweden

but has lived in CT for many years, while keeping his Swedish nationality. He has some very serious health problems and she was scared stiff that once she retired (from Yale) her good health insurance which covered him would be cancelled. They now live half a year here and the other half in Sweden. She has permanent residence status there and his expensive medical care is covered in Sweden.

So what you "don't see" may be going on around you and you have no idea what is happening to others...

[xchrom]

4. recommend -- it isn't necessary to reinvent the wheel. nt

[RufusTFirefly]

6. But if another country does it, it must be wrong. Only America knows best.

[and-justice-for-all]

8. kick