Medical Tourism in Spain

Spain has all the potential to be one of the leading countries in medical tourism globally, and health tourism in Spain is growing at a rate of 20% per year. The country sees a rush of thousands of medical tourists every year. Spain was ranked seventh on the World Health Organization's international comparative list of the world's best health systems. 

The Spanish market has seen an increasing demand in medical tourism because of many advantages such as:

• The possibility to avoid long waiting times for specific procedures.

• Comfortable, modern, and relaxing facilities.

• Top-quality patient attention, and many more.

Spain offers varied treatments to medical tourists. Spain has more than 750 hospitals served by 450,000 doctors and nurses. Spanish Ministry of Health supervises all of the hospitals currently functioning in Spain to offer the best medical facilities for local as well as foreign patients.

Popular Medical Treatments in Spain:

• Cosmetic Surgery

• Orthopedics

• Geriatrics

• Fertility Treatments - IVF

• Dentistry

• LASIK

• Bariatrics

What Draw Medical Tourists to Spain?

Spain is blessed with a generous amount of sunshine, and different country locations have very diverse climates. It helps the tourists to combine their medical trip to Spain with a holiday in their favorite destination in Europe. 

Apart from this, the Spanish healthcare system is far more attractive to international tourists than in their respective countries. These tourists are especially from the UK and Germany. 

Following are some of the major features why Spain is considered one of the best medical tourism hubs:

• Cost-Effective Medical Procedures: Compared to other countries in Europe and the US, patients traveling to Spain can save 30% - 70% in medical expenses. Knee or hip replacement surgeries are cheaper in Spain by up to 60%, and breast reduction & breast uplift are up to 49% compared to the UK and the US. Besides, if you visit Spain as a citizen of the European Economic Area (or EEA), you should get the European Health Insurance Card (or EHIC). This card will help you get free of charge or reduced-cost doctor's assistance. 

• Experienced and Qualified Doctors: The Spanish doctors, surgeons, and nurses are well-trained, certified, and experienced. Surgeons are registered with General Medical Council, UK, and have excellent patient safety records. They are committed to providing the best medical care and services to their patients. Another plus point is that the Spanish healthcare staff speaks fluent English, avoiding any language barrier during medical treatments.

• Best Hospitals: The country has more than 20 JCI-accredited hospitals and clinics spread throughout. Some hospitals are even dedicated to medical tourists completely with translators on staff. The hospitals are well-equipped with modern equipment and technology. They also take care of the individualized needs of patients for their comfortable stay. This extensive, high-quality, and affordable healthcare system attracts a large number of medical tourists from worldwide. 

• Easy Travel: The country is easily accessible, and several inexpensive Airlines operate their flights to different Spanish cities. The flight time from the UK to Spain is under 3 hours. The cities in the country are easily accessible by road, rail, or air. You don't need to have a special medical visa, and you can have a tourist visa alone to meet your health care objectives in Spain. Tourists from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland do not need a visa to enter the country. But it is recommended to contact the Spanish embassy before your visit to get an update about visa formalities.

• Safety: Spain is considered a safe country to travel to. It is legally required to carry your ID with you. There are general rules that you should follow for a safe and enjoyable time:

• If you witness a crime or you are the victim, call the emergency number 112 for help.

• Avoid taking flowers from women because it is just a way of taking money from you.

• Pickpocketing is common in crowded places, so if anyone offers to clean bird poo off your back, walk away because they are only trying to pickpocket you.

• Carry your bag close to your body in public transport and crowded area.

• Fantastic Food & Wine: Spanish cuisines are popular because they are flavorsome, healthy, traditional, and creative. A few dishes that you'll find all over Spain are Gazpacho, a cold, thick soup, and Tapas; small side dishes are served together simultaneously. And if you love wine, Spain is the best destination for a holistic wine experience. Spain is famous for being the world's third-largest exporter of wine, and they have more vineyards by area than anywhere else in the world.

• Rejuvenating Post-Operative Care: Spain is considered one of the popular destinations for total health rejuvenation. You will find countless meditation retreats, beer spas, mud baths, wellness activities with animals, thermal springs, and much more. It will help you to get recovered easily and quickly after your surgery. Many hospitals and clinics are also located in some of the most exotic locations, which provide a pleasant and relaxed ambiance to the patient.

• Tourist Attractions: An excellent place to start exploring Spain is its capital, Madrid. It is the third-largest city in the European Union. Madrid is also home to the World's Oldest Restaurant from 1725, called Sobrino de Botin. You can also visit Barcelona, home to the world's largest metropolitan park, Parc de Collserola, which is 22 times bigger than New York's Central Park. Apart from this, there are numerous tourist attractions such as The Great Mosque of Cordoba, Seville Cathedral and the Alcazar, Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, the list goes on. 

Cost Comparison Between Medical Treatments in Spain and UK

• Hip Replacement: Hip replacement in the UK is £12,000 while in Spain it is £4,800.

• Total Knee Replacement: £9,000 - £10,000 in the UK while in Spain it is £6,000 - £7000.

• Arthroscopy: £3,150 in the UK while in Spain it is £658.

• Face Lift: £7,300 in the UK while in Spain it is £4,500.

• Breast Reduction: £6,900 in the UK while in Spain it is £3,500.

• Liposuction: £3,000 - £4,000 in the UK while in Spain it is £1,500 - £2,000.

• Dental Implants: £1,800 - £2,000 in the UK while in Spain it is £700 - £750.

• Tooth Whitening: £550 - £600 in the UK while in Spain it is £300 - £350.

As you can see, there is a huge difference in prices between UK and Spain, and that's why patients travel to Spain for medical purposes. They can save a considerable amount of money while at the same time enjoying the beautiful delights in the country.

Best Hospitals in Spain 

Below are some of the best hospitals in Spain where you can get high-quality treatment at an affordable price: 

1. Quironsalud Spanish Medical Care: It is the leading hospital group in Spain and has accreditation of ISO 50001, OHSAS 18001, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and The Joint Commission.

2. Hospital Universitari Sagrat Cor, Spain: The hospital is equipped with advanced technology and has approximately operated more than 25,000+ surgical cases and manages around 400,000 patients yearly.

3. Quirónsalud Proton Therapy Centre, Spain: It is an ISO-certified and largest healthcare chain across Spain and Europe which opened its first-ever Proton Therapy Centre for treating cancer patients in the last quarter of 2019.

4. Quirónsalud Madrid University Hospital: It is a JCI accredited hospital that conducts nearly 300,000 OPDs and surgical procedures annually.

5. Hospital Quirónsalud Barcelona: The hospital is JCI accredited and with ultra-modern equipment and facilities guaranteeing proper care of patients.

Best Doctors in Spain

1. Dr. José María Fernández Rañada: A well-recognized Hematologist and Bone Marrow Transplant Expert with 48 years of extensive experience.

2. Dr. Raymond Mirabell: He is a well-known Radio-Oncologist who has been practicing for the past 47 years.

3. Dr. Javier Hornedo Muguiro: A Medical Oncologist practicing for more than 36 years and has gained proficient skills and expertise in his field.

4. Dr. Javier Albiñana: An Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Surgeon with more than 39 years of experience in treating hip dysplasia, Perthes disease, fractures, bone tumors, etc.

5. Prof Daniel Alejandro Maza: He is a leading Radio-Oncologist with 36 years of rich experience in his field.

Popular Medical Destinations in Spain

• Madrid: It is the capital of Spain which provides cost-effective treatments with a great holiday spot. Most of the JCI-accredited hospitals are in Madrid, which also attracts a large number of medical tourists. Popular medical procedures in Madrid include body scans, dental surgeries, orthopedic surgeries, and infertility treatments.

• Valencia: It is also a popular medical tourism destination because it provides high-quality medical services. The city has a good network of highly-qualified and experienced medical professionals. Popular medical procedures in Valencia are dental care, eye care, orthopedic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, and cosmetic surgeries.

• Barcelona: Barcelona's medical tourism is more competitive than in other neighboring regions. As per Barcelona Medical Destination, approximately 20,000 patients travel to the city for either medical or specialized treatment. Popular medical treatments in the city are cosmetic surgery, orthopedic surgery, IVF, cardiovascular surgery, dental care, and eye treatment.

Entry Requirements to Spain

You must keep the following documents ready before traveling to Spain:

• Passport

• Visa (if required)

• Identification documents

• Air ticket

Medical tourists from any EU member state can enter Spain without any VISA. They only need to produce proof of nationalities, such as passports or national identity cards. Medical tourists coming from the US and Canada can stay for up to 3 months without an entry visa requirement. 

Tourists from non-EU countries visiting Spain for a short stay trip up to 90 days have to apply for a Schengen short-stay visa to Spain, also known as a C-type visa. Medical tourists should have to request a Spanish medical visa particularly.  

Are You Planning Traveling to Spain?

Medical tourism is a big business, and Spain will be the future destination. If you are planning to travel to Spain for medical purposes and want a comfortable stay in the country, make sure to be well-prepared for everything. However, medical treatments are affordable in Spain but have extra money for emergencies.

Bottom Line

Spain is a renowned medical tourism destination attracting a growing number of medical travelers all around the world. You can get high-quality and sophisticated medical facilities while also having a relaxing vacation by the sea.