The National Health System, which acronyms are SNS, is a coordinated network of nationally and locally administered Health Services, comprising all health functions and services which are the legal responsibility of the public authorities.
For further information, consult the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality´s website, which is available in Spanish, English and French language.
Each Autonomous Region has a Health Service, which is the administrative and management structure comprising all centres, services and establishments of the region, provincial councils, city councils and any other administrative bodies of the region.
Our regional Health system is the Andalusian Health Service or in its acronyms, SAS (Servicio Andaluz de Salud). It is an autonomous organization adjoined to the Department of Health - Regional Government of Andalusia.
It is important to keep in mind that once the researcher is duly hired, he or she, including their family, in the case they have travelled with him or her, has the right to be included under the National Health System.
The Health Care Card is the document that identifies the user uniquely towards the Andalusian Public Health System. Every person, regardless of age, must have an individual health card.
Residents in Andalusia having no health card must apply for it. It is important that children have their own card from birth.
It is also necessary to request a new card when the previous one is lost or damaged, and also if any of the data printed on the outside of the card is incorrect (eg, a wrong ID, or wrong name).
In the following links you will find the list of Public Hospitals and community Health Care centres which are placed in the city of Granada:
Health Care Centres in Granada
If you are living in a different location, outside the city of Granada, there is an electronic tool of search which will help you to find the correct public sanitary centre to go in case you need it. Where it is written “provincia”, please indicate Granada, and where it is marked “municipio”, please write the name of the village where you live.
How to get an insurance card in the public sanitary system: INTERS@S
InterS@S is a personal service of attention belonging to the Andalusian Public Health System in the Internet, you can download and print the application form. You cannot apply online, as it is necessary to produce documents together with the form.
Procedures through Inters@s
On-site Procedures
You can obtain and submit the application form in your Primary Care Centre or Outpatient Clinic.
The following documents must be submitted in order to apply for a card (original and photocopy):
• ID card holder.
• “Social Security Booklet”, including the sheet for beneficiaries.
• ID of the beneficiaries aged 14 and Family Book, if there is any beneficiary under that age.
To request a new card in case of loss, you must fill an application form and submit a photocopy of the DNI. If the card is damaged, it must be submitted when a new card is requested.
The European Health Insurance Card makes it easier for individuals from any of the Member States of the European Economic Area (including the 27 members of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and Switzerland, to access healthcare services during their temporary visits abroad.
Holders of the European Health Insurance Card will receive treatment in the same conditions as Spanish residents with respect to conditions and costs. If the same service is provided free of charge in the country of origin, the costs of this service may be reimbursed on the individual’s return to the source country.
The European Health Insurance Card is not valid when the purpose of the foreign national’s displacement is to receive medical care. Nor does the card in Spain cover care provided by private healthcare providers.
Important:
The European Health Insurance Card is not an alternative to travel insurance, it does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property, and also it does not cover your costs if you are travelling for the express purpose of obtaining medical treatment, does not guarantee free services. Therefore, we advise you to have your own travel insurance.If the researcher is a PHD student, maybe it is interesting to have a look in the following travel insurance policy. UGR Rules on International Student Mobility obligate all international students to have health and travel insurance for the duration of their study period.
As each country’s healthcare system is different services that cost nothing at home might not be free in another country.
For further information,available in the official languages of the European Union, please see the web page of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.
People coming from countries of the European Union and countries with EU regulation (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) will need the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to receive health care in Andalusia and the rest of Spain.
You can purchase this card at the health institution belonging to your country of origin.
Private Doctors and hospitals in Andalusia / Spain do not accept the TSE. In order to receive health care in these centers, you must settle your own bills or take out an insurance policy covering them.
If you forget the TSE you must pay any hospital, medical and pharmaceutical bills in advance and request to ask your institution for reimbursement of expenses, providing all invoices.
People from Andorra, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru will need a special certificate from their country of origin in order to receive health care in Andalusia and the rest of Spain.
In case you forget your certificate, you must pay any hospital, doctors and pharmacists in advance and ask your institution to reimburse you submitting invoices.
If you come from a country other than the above, you will have to pay for health care, so we recommend contracting a medical insurance.
In any case, we encourage you to get information through your affiliate organization about the requirements to be met in order to receive health care in Andalusia / Spain.
No vaccine is needed against any disease in order to travel to Andalusia / Spain, although, as anywhere in the world, it is recommended to have tetanus vaccine updated if you are going to be in contact with nature and rural environment.
Medicines can be purchased at pharmacies, whose trading symbol is a green cross. Remember that the doctor will always be who will prescribe the treatment in each case.
CLEARINGHOUSE AND SERVICES FOR CITIZENS 'HEALTH RESPONSE”(24 hours) 902505060
HEALTH EMERGENCIES (24 hours) 061 EMERGENCY AND HEALTH URGENCIES HOTLINE (24 HOURS) 902505061
ANDALUSIAN HEALTH SYSTEM - CENTRAL SERVICES (8 to 21h Monday to Friday) 955 018 000
ANDALUSIAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT CITIZEN INFORMATION HOTLINE
902 505 505 ANDALUSIAN HEALTH MINISTRY - CENTRAL SERVICES (8 to 21h Monday to Friday)
955 006 300 INFORMATION ON HEALTH CARD (9 to 21h Monday to Friday) 902505060
INFORMATION FOR WOMEN (24 hours) 900 200 999
FAMILY SUPPORT PLAN 900 850 000
INFORMATION ON TENDERS AND COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION OF THE ANDALUSIAN HEALTH SYSTEM (9- 14h, Monday to Friday) 901 400 017
Each Autonomous Region has a Health Service, which is the administrative and management structure comprising all centres, services and establishments of the region, provincial councils, city councils and any other administrative bodies of the region.
Following the transfer of healthcare responsibilities, all Autonomous Regions are now accountable for healthcare in their regions. In the Cities of Ceuta and Melilla, which have Statutes of Autonomy, the Central State Administration continues to manage healthcare through the National Health Management Institute (INGESA).
ENTITLEMENT TO HEALTH PROTECTION AND CARE
In Spain, healthcare is guaranteed by the National Health System, funded by the State, to persons with the status of Insured or beneficiary of an Insured.
Persons in one of the following situations have the status of Insured:
a) Employed or self-employed persons, registered or similar with the Social Security System.
b) Those with the status of pensioners in the Social Security System.
c) Recipients of any other regular benefit from the Social Security System, including unemployment benefits.
Individuals requiring private medical care may take out medical insurance in the country of origin that provides cover in Spain, or take out insurance with any private medical insurance company in Spain.
It is important to remember that many of these companies have grace periods which may range between several months and one year before it is possible to draw on any of their services, especially in the case of maternity and surgical operations.
A brief list is provided below of the main companies:
| Private Insurance Companies and contact details | ||
|---|---|---|
| ADESLAS | Tel.: 902 200 200 | http://www.adeslas.es |
| ASISA | Tel.: 902 010 010 | http://www.asisa.es |
| MAPFRE Caja Salud | Tel.: 902 20 40 60 | http://www.mapfre.com/salud |
| SANITAS | Tel.: 902 102 400 | http://www.sanitas.es |
For a more complete list, please visit the Yellow Pages online and look under the headings “insurance, “medical companies” or “medical insurance”.
When contracting any of these services, it is recommendable to check prices because in some cases, in addition to monthly or annual premiums, there is a fee for consultations. It is also important to check the national and international cover provided by these insurance policies.
There are some companies which allow the Insured to choose the medical staff that suits him/her most, subsequently reimbursing a certain amount of the fees the Insured has paid to the specialist.
You will receive free healthcare on showing:
•European Health Card (EU+ Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.)
•Documentation to prove you have a healthcare plan, if you are from a non-EU country.
If you come from a country that has a bilateral healthcare agreement with Spain, and you don’t have any medical insurance yet, go to a health centre next to your place in Granada and ask about the procedure to register with a family doctor.
Check the list of Primary Care centres at The Spanish Health Ministry website
Don’t’ wait to fall ill to check information about doctors and hospitals.
Note that: the European Health card covers you healthcare. If you still don’t have a health and travel insurance you can purchase the insurance policy arranged by UGR, if you are a PHD student.
You can purchase it and pay it online
The insurance coverage will start and end in the dates stated by the student to the insurance company when purchasing the policy.
The dates will always have to be according to the limits of the academic year 2014/15 (maximum30 September 2015).