Free medical care in Spain

June 06, 2009

The European Commission has given Spain an ultimatum to grant EU pensioners the right to free medication while on holiday in Spain.

The commission has opened a disciplinary file on Spain for discriminatory practices that violate EU regulations regarding member citizens’ rights to social security cover when travelling within the Union.

Although the EU healthcard should guarantee any EU pensioners full access to public healthcare and medication when travelling to another member state, the Spanish Ministry of Health says the card does not prove the holder is a pensioner and thus will not grant free medication as would be the case of Spanish pensioners.

Spanish law does allow EU pensioners to obtain free medication, but those on holiday in Spain must produce another document released by their national social security department, that certifies they receive a state pension.

Health ministry officials claim many pensioners present documents ‘of dubious validity’. “A photocopy, at times illegible and in a language not widely understood, is not valid proof of a pensioner’s status,” says the ministry.

Because of this practice, Spain has been given two months to rectify the situation or, as the commission has already stated, it will take the matter to the EU Tribunal of Justice.

“We must guarantee that tourists from other EU countries enjoy the same rights as residents,” says EU employment and social affairs commissioner Vladimir Spidla.

“Spain is one of the main European tourist destinations, but Spanish legislation imposes administrative formalities for EU pensioners who may require medication during a temporary stay in the country,” added Mr Spidla.

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