EU Country Spain - It's Healthcare System

Spanish Property Site www.spanish-property.ws gives important Health and Medical advice to anyone considering buying a property in Spain.

(PRWEB) June 19, 2005 -- When buying Spanish property there are certain questions that everyone has, for some its will I be able to find work?" for others its will I make new friends?". There is however one question that crops up on the list of almost everyone buying Spanish property, What if I need medical care?"

No matter how careful we are and how healthy the lifestyle we lead there are always factors like accidents and unforeseen illnesses that can occur at any time, so when buying a Spanish property for a full time move to Spain it is important to know the level of healthcare that will be available.

Everyone buying a Spanish property should, of course, do their own research into the facilities the area they are moving to provides, but taking the country as a whole it would be fair to say that the Spanish National Health Service is one of the best in the world.

Modelled on the UK health service, the Spanish Health service was set up in 1986. The service is almost entirely funded by taxation and currently costs around 6% of Spains GDP. UK citizens, who may own Spanish property, are fully covered by the Spanish National Health service when in Spain. Anyone contributing to the Spanish social security (and their families), and retirees from any EU country can claim free health care provided by the Spanish National Health Service.

Even with such a good National Health Service many people who buy Spanish property for a full time move arrange some sort of private health care. Around 15% of the population of Spain are covered under private healthcare schemes, the standards of which are very high, and many of the private clinics are used by the public health sector for specialised treatment. A large portion of the private health care in Spain is run by the Spanish subsidiary of BUPA.

There are approximately 800 hospitals in Spain, most being situated in the main urbanisations and coastal developments where many UK buyers are seeking Spanish property. The Ambulance service consists of fully equipped vehicles with intensive care capabilities and are manned by trained paramedics. Pharmacies and dentists can be found locally and offer services that many ex- patriots find superior to the U.K.

Availability of health care in Spain is now recognized by many to be superior to the U.K. The highest range of health care, both public and private, is as you would expect centred around the coastal developments and in the main inland cities. Most of the rural communities do however have access to health centres and GPs within an easily commutable distance.

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