Citizens of the European community are covered
for most forms of medical help by a convention between
neighbour states that offers access to medical treatment
for their citizens. The system using the international
E-111 form became obsolete in January 2006 and has been
replaced by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which
is available in your home country in the same way the E-111
form was. Emergency services will, of course, treat anyone
in any circumstance, and are obliged by law to do so, but
some treatments and services may be outside the remit of
the EHIC and therefore will have to be paid for later.
It is important, however, to be aware that not even the
EHIC covers all medical costs, and that most countries, particularly
Britain and its Foreign Office, urge travellers to buy sufficient
private travel insurance to cover contingencies outside those
covered by the EHIC. All reputable travel insurance companies
have reciprocal agreements with overseas counterparts (BUPA,
for instance, with Spanish companies such as Adeslas and
Sanitas).
Most primary and minor medical services can be dealt with
at a local health centre in your destination. These offer
medical assistance and consultation, and can deal with emergencies
that do not require hospitalisation (which will require a
simple transfer to a nearby hospital). Most clinics and hospitals
can offer the assistance of translators for those who do
not speak Spanish, although this becomes less of an option
the further you travel away from the larger centres of population.
If you find yourself in a particular serious medical emergency,
call or ask someone to call the national emergency line on
061.
The hospital system is structured much in the way you will
find in any capital, although there are also numerous private
hospitals and specialist clinics, many of which are linked
to the public health system. How you negotiate this system
very much depends on each individual case.
In addition, in each city and town and the municipalities
of Andalucía there are also offices where you can
obtain help and advice on accessing medical assistance. If
your circumstance is a police matter, the first number to
call is the National Police on 091.
Andalucía also has a European Emergency Services
free information line on 112, which coordinates emergency
calls and can offer help in Spanish, English, French and
German. The 112 telephone line is a recommended first-stop
in any medical emergency. |
About
Andalucía
