Further Advice
In Spain there are two types of cover offered by the social welfare system: contributory and non-contributory. Contributory cover covers professionals and students, whether domestic or foreign, as long as they have legal residency status in Spain.
Non-contributory cover is subject to a number of requirements in relation to the agreements, conventions and bilateral treaties between countries. If you do not contribute to the Spanish social security system but you are a citizen of the European Union, you have the right to medical treatment. If you are not an EU citizen and you do not have any health insurance that covers you, you will only have the right to free healthcare if you are under eighteen years old, pregnant, or in case of an emergency.
The pharmaceutical legislation in Spain is less stringent than in other European countries, and so you are able to buy certain medicines without a prescription. However, although these medicines are typically basic ones which you should be familiar with using, you should always ask the pharmacist how best to take these drugs. It is inadvisable to self medicate on a regular basis: you may put your health at risk.
If you are a foreign national living in Spain it is important to register with the social security system, or have a private health insurance that covers at least accidents and emergencies. Some insurance companies offer inexpensive deals for foreign nationals staying in Spain for a limited time, which is useful for exchange students or holidaymakers.
For more detailed information on the Spanish health system, see the following Spanish articles:
