Spanish & Catalan Healthcare

CatSalut

The Catalan Health Service, CatSalut , was established in January 1991 and generally has a good reputation as a provider of modern and comprehensive healthcare. It is essentially a government (Generalitat de Catalunya) funded service although depending on individual circumstances contributions may be required.

Although essentially one service it is decentralised and split into regions along the following lines:

◊ Alt Pirineu i Aran - northern Lleida province

◊ Lleida - southern Lleida province

◊ Girona - Girona province

◊ Catalunya Central - northern Barcelona province

◊ Barcelona - southern Barcelona province

◊ Camp de Tarragona - northern Tarragona province

◊ Terres de l'Ebre - southern Tarragona province

From a patients point of view there are three areas of contact. The first is a 24 hour, 365 day a year healthcare helpline which aims to provide information and advice on general health matters and a resource for pointing you in the right direction, for example the nearest Pharmacy of Primary healthcare centre to you. The second are the Primary healthcare centres (CAP's) themselves which are the place to go to either register or see a doctor for anything other than emergencies. The third area is specialised care or complementary services which include anything from a hospital stay to a specialist referral from your doctor.

Sanitat Respon helpline

The helpline number is 902 111 444 for advice and information about your health or about health-related issues.

CAP's or Primary Healthcare Centres (Centre d'Atenciķ Primāria)

These are found in most towns and villages though in smaller towns they maybe located in a smaller local surgery. It's the first point of call whether you're registering with a doctor for the first time or have a non emergency health problem once registered. Some of the CAP's may also be termed as CAC's or continuous attention centres (centres d'atenciķ continuada) and provide a similar service but open 24 hours a day.

Specialised care, complementary services & emergencies

Unless you're unfortunate enough to need to call an ambulance because of an emergency your contact at this level of care would be following a referral from your doctor. In the case of emergencies the number you should call is 061.

The TSI (la targeta sanitāria individual)

Your entry ticket into CatSalut is the TSI or individual health card (targeta sanitāria individual) and gives you full access across the healthcare system. Eligibility to CatSalut is sometimes not clear cut but having this card in your name is your guarantee to access.

The process of applying for one should start at your nearest CAP where you will be registered , assigned a GP and given a provisional identification document (PID) while you application is being processed. They are however personal, non-transferable and assigned individually so each person, whatever age, needs to apply for one.

It covers everything from reduced price prescriptions at your local pharmacy to emergency hospital treatment and is also valid for the public healthcare systems throughout the rest of Spain.

Eligibility

You should check with the health authority in your country of origin as to whether you're entitled to free care with CatSalut. It usually depends on the level of contributions you've made and will normally entitle you to free care for a limited period but this varies from case to case so check before you leave.

If you're a citizen of the EU and visiting Catalunya on a temporary basis you are entitled to free care if you hold a valid EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), the replacement for the E111 in the UK, which must be obtained from the health authority in a your country of origin before you leave. It is however recommended that the EHIC is used in conjunction with private medical insurance either through a travel policy or separately.

If you're employed your employer will pay into the social security system for you or if self-employed (registered as autķnomos) via your own contributions. You can also pay voluntary contributions to the health service which are in the region of €90 a month.

The only exceptions for gaining access to care without the TSI are pregnant women, new mothers and minors up to the age of 18.

Registration

It's a simple process to register providing you go with the relevant documentation which are, depending on your eligibility as detailed above, some or all of the following:

◊ Passport

◊ Social security card

◊ Empadronament (Empadronamiento in Spanish)

◊ EHIC card

◊ Relevant documentation from your country of origin health service

◊ NIE and/or Tarjeta de Residencia

Pharmacies (farmācias)

The Farmācia is a good alternative first point of call to the CAP and the highly qualified staff will usually be able to help with any minor ailments. Unlike some other countries supermarkets will not carry any pharmaceutical products or have their own in-store pharmacy but almost all villages and towns will have at least one, easily identified by a lit green cross.

Useful Catalan medical vocabulary

Doctor – Metge

Nurse – Infermer

Ill/Sick – malalt

I feel sick - Tinc nāusees

Injured - Ferit