Synthesis task #6

SPANISH HEALTHCARE:
WHAT MAKES SPAIN’S SYSTEM SO SUCCESSFUL?
CHARLES ZAEPFEL
SPN-101-U1 SPRING 2017

OVERVIEW:
In 1978-1986 Spain’s
healthcare system underwent
major transformations. The
goal of the 1978 Spanish
Constitution regarding
healthcare was to set higher
standards for the treatment
patients would receive.
Today, as ranked by the
World Health Organization,
Spain’s single-payer
healthcare system is ranked
seventh best in the world.
Due to its effectiveness most
people do not mind paying
for it as part of their taxes.
However, there are around
25% of people in the country
who pay to be looked at by
privately run clinics.
Comparatively, Spain has a
more effective healthcare
system than the United States
while spending far less
money. Spain’s public
healthcare system also
provides free healthcare for
retirees. Spain even covers
the healthcare of those from
other EU countries as the UK
government pays Spain an
annual sum per pensioner to
cover their health costs. A
key principle to the success
of the Spanish healthcare
system includes the voice it
gives to citizens. With
modern technological
advances this provides more
forums for communication.

STATISTICS IN SPAIN:
• Spain’s healthcare system is ranked
7 th worldwide
• Spain ranks 6 th among the 30
industrialized democracies in life
expectancy
o The average expectancy for
men and women is 77.8 and
84.3 years, respectively
• Spain ranks 17 th among 224 nations
in infant mortality rates
• Spain ranks 9 th among 34 countries
in number of doctors (per 1000
population)
• 25% of people in Spain opt for
privately run clinics instead of public

AREAS FOR
IMPROVEMENT:
difficult to sustain the quality
of care for which it has been
known for. From the
perspective of the physicians,
this generous system does
lead them to feel somewhat
underappreciated and
underpaid.
Common complaints of the
Spanish healthcare system in
general involve the long wait
to see specialists and undergo
certain procedures. In fact,
there are a third fewer deaths
caused by delayed access to
healthcare than in the United
States. Also, with increasing
cost that comes with more
modernized technology,
Spain finds itself lacking
funding to purchase such
high-quality materials.
Related to this is the longterm
issue involving how
easy it is to acquire free
healthcare. With an
increasing number of patients
entering the healthcare
system it becomes more

References:
Socolovsky, Jerome. "What Makes Spain's Health Care System The
Best?" NPR. NPR, 19 Aug. 2009. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.
Pencille, Barbara. "Spanish Healthcare Explained." The Guardian.
Guardian News and Media, 08 Apr. 2008. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.
Borkan, Jeffrey, Charles B. Eaton, David Novillo-Ortiz, Pablo Rivero
Corte, and Alejandro R. Jadad. "Renewing Primary Care: Lessons
Learned From The Spanish Health Care System." Health Affairs. Health
Affairs, 01 Aug. 2010. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.