However, the public health authorities in each community have to check that patients are able to cover the cost of treatment, either with state or private health insurance. In the case of the European Union, conventions between member countries enable citizens to use the health systems of other member countries in the same way as they would in their home country. To streamline this, the EU has recently introduced the European Health Card. This is a card issued in your home country which will enable you to use the health system of any European Union country you visit or spend time in.

We should consider the following with regard to the Health Card and the European health system:

What is the European Health Card, and what does it do?

The Card is issued to enable the individual to access the same state health services as the citizens of any other member country of the European Union, the European Economic Zone, and Switzerland, during a temporary stay there.

When is the European Health Card not valid?

The card is not valid if you travel to another country specifically for any form of specialist treatment only available in that country.

Who can apply for a Card?

Anyone entitled to use the health system of their home country can apply for a European Health Card, which has to be done in your home country under its health benefits system.

How do I obtain a European Health Card?

Applications are made via your local office of Social Security.

The countries to which the Card system currently applies are: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, France, Finland, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Portugal, Norway and Sweden.

In the case of families applying for European Health Cards, a parent must apply on behalf of their children, with relevant identification documents.

In countries that have yet to issue the European Health Card, it is still possible to apply for the older E-111 form to obtain the same health cover. In countries that are in the process of establishing a Health Card system, it is possible to obtain a Provisional Certificate.

Important note: you can only obtain a European Health Card in your country of origin.

How long is the Card valid?

The period of validity is normally one year from the date of issuing, except for pensioners, who will be issued a card valid for four years.

What happens if I can not obtain a European Health Card?

If you are unable for any reason to obtain a European Health Card but believe you have the right to obtain one, DO NOT WORRY, as you will be able to obtain an individual certificate with the same validity as the Card.

When you arrive in Andalucía, you should bear in mind that it has one of the most advanced health systems in the world. This is not an error. It may not be the case in the future, but today it is considered to be one of the most sophisticated health systems in existence. In reality, private clinics and hospitals, more numerous in tourist zones, work in tandem with the state health system, particularly with patients with serious infirmities or needing specialist treatments such as surgery.

The structure of the public health system in Andalucía, officially known as the Servicio Andaluz de Salud (SAS), is formed basically from three distinct types of health centre:

Primary Care Centres.

   1.   General and Regional Hospitals

   2.   Specialist Health Centres

1. - Primary Care Centres are found in every town and city. These offer the services of the Spanish equivalent to a family doctor or general practitioner, certain specialist treatments and, normally, emergencies.

It is here that you should go in the first instance for all but major emergency treatments such as serious accidents, when the ambulance system will take a patient to a general or specialist hospital. You should also register here with an identified general practitioner for treatment for general conditions or referral for specialist treatment. If a condition is more serious than the centre can treat, you will either be referred or taken (if you are unaccompanied or unable to travel) to a general hospital or a specialist health centre.

2. General Hospitals are usually found in cities and larger towns (in this case they are known as Hospitales Comarcales, or regional hospitals) and are the base for all types of specialist treatments and primary health care services, although in extremely serious cases or patients with special needs you will be referred or taken to a Specialist Health Centre.

3. Specialist Health Centres are hospitals that specialize in specific types of condition. In these you will find specialists and health care workers trained in specific conditions and with the necessary equipment or therapies for the specialized conditions.

Typically, you will find there are centres specializing in trauma, psychiatry, maternity and paediatrics, oncology, and so on.

Lastly, we should also note that there are also Rehabilitation Centres in the Servicio Andaluz de Salud that exist to help patients recuperate from operations, surgery and other major treatments.

As we said earlier, health centres in tourist areas are used to working with patients from outside Spain, particularly during the summer season. Problems can arise here, particularly in accessing health care at certain times of the day. It is always advisable to visit a health centre at the earliest time of the day possible, as you may find on many occasions that you will be joining a long queue. This is particularly true if you find yourself in need of health care in the interior rather than, say, in Marbella, Palma de Mallorca or Tenerife.

You should also be aware that if you decide to live for any amount of time in Andalucia and want to register with a local doctor here, you can ask for an introductory appointment over the internet, specifically at this web page:

https://ws003.juntadeandalucia.es

This way you can avoid the first queue to request an appointment, and it will also help the health centre staff in their work. At present the page is in Spanish only, but it will soon be available in various European Union languages. In certain hospitals you will also find free volunteer translator services to help if you are unable to speak Spanish. In the Hospital Comarcal de la Costa del Sol in Marbella there is a volunteer staff of translators who are fluent in twenty-five different languages.

For more information visit this page:

http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/salud/principal

In any situation, the staff at every Health Centre and Hospital will be happy to help with any request for help or information.

For the directions of the hospitals in Andalusia click on the province : Malaga , Sevilla , Cadiz , Jaen , Cordoba , Almeria ,Huelva and Granada

Enjoy your holiday or stay in Andalucia, and by following this guide you can make it a healthier visit.

The Originalandalucia team.