It is true that Spain can boast one of the world’s best public health systems, but, like everything in life, it has its “buts.” Although it covers all citizens and is relatively accessible, waiting lists are a chronic problem. If you need nonurgent surgery, prepare to wait. And wait. And wait some more.
According to the Ministry of Health, in 2022 the average wait for nonurgent surgery was 121 days, but in some autonomous communities, such as Catalonia or the Canary Islands, it could reach 170 days. So if you have a health problem that is not life-threatening, you had better be patient, because the system is overloaded.
This does not mean doctors and nurses do not do excellent work. On the contrary, health professionals in Spain are highly regarded. The problem is that resources are insufficient to serve the entire population efficiently. Inadequate investment in infrastructure and personnel, combined with growing demand, has left the public health system on the brink of collapse in some areas.
And if you turn to private health care to avoid the waiting lists, you had better be ready to pay. Private health insurance is expensive, and although it offers faster service, not everyone can afford it. So once again, we find ourselves with a system that, although good in theory, has major deficiencies in practice.