As a newcomer who’s only been in Spain for a few years, I’ve always heard the Spanish healthcare system has been under strain, especially after the pandemic, making it feel more complicated to see a doctor or buy medicine. I’ve been to a few pharmacies and hospitals recently, and the situation seems to be changing. I wanted to share my observations and see if the improvements in Spanish healthcare spending are real or if it’s just my impression.
Masks and Basic Protective Gear
It really feels like masks are no longer in short supply. Pharmacies (Farmacias) now have shelves stocked with all kinds of FFP2 masks, and the prices are much lower than before. It’s a world of difference from the peak of the shortage when a single mask could cost several euros and was still hard to find. Besides masks, other items like hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes, relevant to discussions on medical apparel in Spain, are now widely available at reasonable prices. It seems the supply of basic personal protective equipment has fully returned to normal.
Availability of Common Medications
This is a bit more complicated. Common over-the-counter drugs for colds and pain relief, like Paracetamol and Ibuprofeno, are generally well-stocked and easy to buy. However, for certain prescription medications, especially for chronic conditions, you might still encounter shortages. A friend of mine has asthma, and on a few occasions, he had to visit three or four pharmacies to find his Symbicort inhaler. The pharmacist explained that the supply chains for some drugs haven’t fully recovered, leading to occasional nationwide shortages. Here’s a quick summary of the availability of a few drugs I asked about on my recent pharmacy visits (this may not be perfectly accurate, but it’s for reference):
| Medication Type | Common Brands | Availability |
|---|
| Pain & Fever Reducer | Paracetamol, Ibuprofeno | Readily Available |
| Antibiotics | Amoxicilina | Mostly stable, prescription required |
| Asthma Medication | Ventolin, Symbicort | Occasional Shortages |
| Blood Pressure Medication | Enalapril | Stable supply |
Experience with Hospitals and Emergency Rooms
Finally, let’s talk about hospital visits. The waiting time to book an appointment with a family doctor (GP) seems to be the same as always, ranging from a week to half a month. However, my experience at the emergency room (urgencias) was better than last year. I went for an allergic reaction, and the wait time from arrival to seeing a doctor was about an hour and a half, much shorter than the four to five-hour waits you often hear about. I’m not sure if I was just lucky or if the overall efficiency has genuinely improved. Has anyone else been to the hospital recently? Feel free to share your experiences. It feels like things are gradually improving, but we’re still a ways off from the more relaxed situation of the past. It seems that processes like buying medicine in Spain may still require some time to fully normalize.
