When preparing our well-deserved holidays in Malaga we should not only think about sun cream and travel guides, but also what to do in case of a medical emergency.
We have compiled the most important questions and answers.
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Medical emergency in Malaga – Everything you need to know
Malaga and the Costa del Sol receive more than 14 million visitors annually.
Due to the large influx of tourists, a significant number of people may need medical assistance during their stay in Malaga.
Well, obviously nobody wants to get sick on holiday, but sometimes it happens.
It doesn’t have to be serious. Especially in the summer months there are often jellyfish stings, traumatisms, sunstroke or skin problems caused by the sun.
Whatever the reason for your medical emergency in Malaga, you can rest assured:
Spanish healthcare is considered one of the best in the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) ranks it 7th in the world for health.
Can tourists go to the doctor in Malaga?
Everyone can access health care to one degree or another, including asylum seekers, refugees and tourists.
However, to receive non-emergency medical care, you either have to have health insurance (public or private) or you have to pay for it yourself.
For whom is emergency medical care guaranteed in Malaga and the Costa del Sol?
With the European Health Insurance Card, EU citizens can receive free medical treatment in public health centres during their holidays in Spain.
In Spain, healthcare is free for all citizens who live there permanently.
Is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) valid on the Costa del Sol?
Yes, with the EHIC, EU statutory insured persons receive the necessary medical treatment in the public health system.
The card, which you must apply for from your own health insurance before travelling, is presented together with an identification document at the health centre or hospital.
Important: services in private clinics or surgeries are not covered by the EHIC.
Does the EHIC still work for UK citizens?
The UK GHIC has replaced the current EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). If you already have an EHIC, you can continue to use it until the card expires.
Once it has expired, you will need to apply for a UK GHIC to replace it. You can apply for a new card up to 9 months before your current card expires.
What are the costs for uninsured people?
For people without health insurance, the costs of an emergency room visit can be as high as 200 euros and 100 euros for a visit to a doctor.
What to do in case of a medical emergency in Malaga?
In case of acute health problems or accidents, you should call the emergency number 112, which is valid throughout Europe and is also available in English.
The emergency number covers all types of emergencies (health, accidents, risk situations, etc.). Calls are free of charge, both from landlines and mobiles.
Calls can be made from mobile phones even if they are blocked, the SIM card is inactive or there is no coverage from the mobile phone provider.
You can also go directly to the emergency department of a hospital (Accident and Emergency) or to a health centre.
What to do in an emergency
In an emergency, go directly to a hospital, specifically the emergency room (Urgencias).
If you want to receive any other type of hospital treatment, you will need a referral from a doctor. Along the Costa del Sol there are both public and private hospitals.
Emergency or urgent care?
In order to make use of the Andalusian Health Emergency Services, it is important that you know which one to contact depending on the circumstances in which you find yourself, as an emergency is not the same as an urgency.
- Urgent care is necessary in cases such as fever, pain, vomiting… where medical care is needed as soon as possible, but no one’s life is at risk.
- Emergencies involve a risk to the person’s life, e.g. loss of consciousness, heart attack or cardiac arrest, heavy blood loss, etc. In these cases call 112 or go immediately to a nearby emergency department.
In Andalusia, emergency services are provided both in hospitals and health centres.
If you need urgent care, you can go to those health centres that have an emergency care unit during normal opening hours, outside normal opening hours, or to the emergency services of hospital centres.
Can tourists buy antibiotics in Malaga?
In Spain, medicines must be bought in pharmacies, which are easily distinguishable by their green cross. Antibiotics are only available on prescription.
Can I go to a pharmacy for minor ailments?
Yes, pharmacies provide advice on minor ailments and dispense medicines without prescription.
On-call pharmacies are also open at night, on public holidays and at weekends. You can find your nearest on-call pharmacy on the Internet or on the notice board.
Do tourists need health insurance to enter Spain?
It is not currently compulsory to have travel insurance to visit Spain.
However, depending on your home country, it is possible that many health insurance plans (e.g. in the United States) will not cover you when you travel abroad. So it is always a good idea to have a travel insurance plan that covers medical expenses.
What if I need to go to hospital in Malaga?
For any hospital treatment, except in an emergency, you will need a referral from a doctor.
Only public hospitals offer free treatment. Make sure you show your European Health Insurance Card on admission, otherwise you will be charged as a private patient.
What is a Health Centre and when to go there?
A Centro de Salud is a public health centre where there are usually general practitioners, emergency consultations and sometimes also specialists.
It is suitable for non-life-threatening ailments such as fever, colds, stomach problems or minor injuries.
No appointment is necessary: all you need to bring is your identity card and, if necessary, your European insurance card.
How does billing work with the European Health Insurance Card?
The Spanish health authority settles the costs directly with the health insurance company.
As a general rule, you do not have to pay anything if you go to a public health centre.
Any co-payments (e.g. for medicines) must be paid by yourself.
How does billing work with private international health insurance?
With private insurance, you often have to pay in advance.
It is advisable to check beforehand whether the chosen clinic works with the insurance company. All invoices and receipts should be kept carefully in order to be able to claim reimbursement at a later date.
What if I don’t have health insurance?
Even if you are not insured, you will receive medical care in case of acute emergencies in Spanish public hospitals and health centres. However, you will have to pay the costs of treatment yourself.
A simple check-up can cost between 30 and 100 euros, and hospitalisation can cost several thousand euros. For this reason, many tourists take out private international health insurance for the duration of their trip.
What to do if I have language problems?
Many clinics and health centres in tourist regions have multilingual staff. You can also use translation applications.
There is the Association of Voluntary Interpreters Costa del Sol for Hospitals:
The AVICS Association Voluntary Interpreters Costa del Sol based at the Hospital Costa del Sol in Marbella translates for patients and medical staff.
- Contact: +34 951 97 66 69
- Email: avicscontact@gmail.com
The consulates or embassies have lists of multilingual doctors on the Costa del Sol. See below.
What applies to longer stays in Malaga?
The EHIC is only valid for temporary stays.
If you are going to stay in Malaga for more than three months, you should find out about the possibility of registering with the Spanish Social Security or taking out permanent insurance.
Where can I find further information?
Information on finding doctors, reimbursement procedures and additional recommendations can be found on the websites of the embassies in Spain.
These lists of service providers are for information purposes only and are based on information available at the time of writing this article.
German Consulate in Malaga List of doctors
UK Consulate Malaga List of doctors
Dutch Consulate in Malaga List of doctors
The Dutch consulate in Malaga does not provide a list of Dutch-speaking doctors.
However, we have found a very useful website that provides a list for Medical assistance on the Costa del Sol.
French Consulate in Malaga List of doctors
The French Consulate in Malaga does not publish an official list of doctors.
However, it is possible that the Consulate can provide you with information about French-speaking doctors in the region, including the embassy’s medical officers, according to the embassy’s website.
US Embassy List of doctors
The list of hospitals and doctors has been compiled by the U.S. Embassy in Madrid to assist U.S. citizens in Malaga should they require medical services.
Consulates in Malaga & Costa del Sol
You may need to contact your consulate for various reasons: loss of passport, death or a general emergency in Malaga. Office hours are usually from 9am to 2pm from Monday to Friday.
Please note that consulates are closed on public holidays in Malaga and on public holidays in your home country.
Austria – Alameda de Colon 26, Malaga, 646 060 972
Canada – Plaza de la Malagueta 2, Malaga, 952 223 346
Denmark – Calle Cordoba 6, Malaga, 952 211 797
Finland – Calle Córdoba 6, Malaga, 952 212 435
Germany – Calle Mauricio Moro Pareto 2, Malaga, 952 363 958
Italy – Alameda Principal, 35, Malaga, 952 365 593
Portugal – Calle Cañizares 15, Malaga, 952 347 677
Sweden – Calle Córdoba 6, Malaga, 952 604 383
UK – Calle Mauricio Moro Pareto 2, Edif Eurocom, Malaga, 952 352 300
Ireland – Avda. de los Boliches 15, Fuengirola, 952 475 108
Norway – Avda. de los Boliches 60, Fuengirola, 952 667 955
USA – Avda. Juan Gómez Juanito 6, Fuengirola, 952 474 891
Holland – Avda. Palma de Mallorca 57, Torremolinos, 952 380 888
Belgium – Avda. Ricardo Soriano 20, 3C, Marbella, 951 516 019
Hospitals on the Costa del Sol
The most important public hospitals on the Costa del Sol are:
- Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga. How to get there
- Hospital Valle del Guadalhorce, Cártama. How to get there
- Hospital Marítimo, Torremolinos. How to get there
- Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella. How to get there
On a small note, four out of ten patients at the Costa del Sol hospital in Marbella are foreigners. Hence the importance of the hospital’s volunteer translator service.
The Costa del Sol Hospital is certified by the Joint Commission International (JCI). This certification is awarded to hospitals that meet the highest standards in medical care.
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