Healthcare. What do you need to know?

How can you see a doctor in Spain?

Emergency treatment is guaranteed for everyone and is provided in hospitals and some health centres. Care at private centres will always be charged. We recommend always travelling with international medical insurance, especially if you are not a citizen of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein or a country with a bilateral healthcare agreement with Spain that covers assistance.Medical care for illness or accident is free to citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein as long as they have a European Health Card (EHIC) and the reason for the trip is not to seek specific medical treatment. If you forget your EHIC, you will have to pay all the costs and request reimbursement back in your country. If you require scheduled medical treatment, this must be authorised by the competent institution in your country of origin. In all cases, dental treatment (with the exception of extractions) are excluded, and repatriation the in case of illness.Andorra, Chile, Morocco, Peru and Tunisia have bilateral agreements with Spain that guarantee medical and hospital care to their citizens in Spain. However, you will need to have the appropriate certificate issued in your country of origin. If you forget your certificate, you will have to pay all the costs and request reimbursement back in your country. Here you can consult the different bilateral agreements with Spain on healthcare.UK citizens will be covered by the Spanish National Health System. It is envisaged that the UK European Health Insurance Card (UK EHIC) or the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) will provide this coverage. Find more information in the Brexit info section.

Where can you buy medicines?

In Spain, medicines are purchased from chemists. You will see these in the streets with the green crosses. If you come from a European country or a country that has a healthcare agreement with Spain, you'll be eligible for the same pharmaceutical services as Spaniards.

Smoking. Where is it prohibited?

In Spain, smoking is prohibited in all enclosed public areas (including public or collective transport vehicles).Smoking is also not permitted in health centres (including outdoor areas within their premises), educational and training centres (except in outdoor areas of university and adult education centres) and in the premises of playgrounds and play areas (outdoor areas equipped for children).Many hotels and other establishments have rooms for smokers. These must be in separate areas with separate ventilation.

Celiac disease. Is it easy to find food for celiacs and how do you ask for it?

In Spain there is a growing awareness of Celiac Disease and the importance of providing gluten-free food. Therefore, more and more hotels, restaurants, campsites, parks and recreation centres are prepared for the needs of people with celiac disease. You can find a list of them on the official website of the Spanish Federation of Associations of people with celiac disease. In turn, the Federation recommends that tourists who do not speak Spanish carry a piece of paper with this text written on it.“I’m a celiac. If I eat any kind of food containing wheat, rye, barley, oats, kamut, spelt or triticale, it can make me ill. This includes flour, bread, pasta, croquettes, sweets, sauces, and some cured meats. Celiacs can eat meat, fish, eggs, pulses, fruit, vegetables, rice, maize, soya, and also potatoes. These products should be cooked without flour, boiled, grilled, barbecued or served raw. If you have any questions during the preparation of the meal, please let me know. Thank you“.

Travelling with food intolerances. What precautions to take?

If you have food allergies or intolerances, you should know that in Spain it is compulsory to report whether food contains any of the following 14 allergens and their derivatives which must be declared: lupins, celery, peanuts, cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, nuts, sesame, eggs, milk, molluscs, mustard, fish, soya and sulphites. That’s why you'll see them listed on menus in bars, restaurants and food establishments; or marked in bold or in some special way in the list of ingredients when you buy packaged foods.We advise telling the waiting staff where you are going to eat (in hotels, restaurants, planes or trains, for example), or your travel agency, about your food intolerance or allergy. Always ask any questions you feel necessary; if in doubt, opt for another alternative and avoid consuming the food. In this link you can find a foldable warning card, translated into English, French and Spanish, to print out and show people the allergens they need to avoid. It will be useful for you to show it when you need it and make sure they understand it. You can also leave it folded on your table in a clearly visible place.