Spain’s health tourists hide behind regular tourism
mb.com.ph
More and more health ‘’tourists’’ and foreign residents buying into the idea of retirement by the sea have been making increasing use of Spain’s medical facilities -- to the extent that they are now causing a headache for service providers.
EU tourists, comprising mostly Britons, Germans and Belgians, are entitled to free health care in Spain, with the local authorities picking up the bill.
Popular procedures include hip replacements and coronary bypasses.
‘’Everything is easier here, healthcare is universal and free for all,’’ says Manuel Cervera, deputy head of healthcare in the Valencian regional government.
‘’In some northern European countries patients sometimes have to wait for months on waiting lists for treatment. Here, the average wait is 45 days for a routine operation,’’ Cervera told AFP.
Obtaining a prosthesis ‘’sometimes costs money in other countries, whereas here they are free,’’ he adds.
Under current EU legislation such treatment or surgery for a previously diagnosed ailment requires authorisation from health authorities in the patient’s homeland.
‘’Health tourism is camouflaged behind normal tourism,’’ Llevata charges. ‘’Many people say they are on holiday whereas in fact they are getting treatment.’’
A message in English on the walls of the Foyetes health centre at the tourist trap of Benidorm explains to would-be customers: ‘’If you don’t speak Spanish come with someone who does. You’ll get better service.’’
