Prescriptions in Almeria

Hi,

My belief is that.you can sign on temporarily at a Health Centre or Drs by presenting yourself (& Interpreter) together with your Passport & EHIC. No idea after Brexit. Spain allows a huge variety of medication to be sold OTC but no idea about Insulin. Know needles & syringes no problem.

Obviously in emergency you can visit any A& E/ Urgencias. There are also Private Drs.

There are quite a number of Diabetics out here and I will mention you to one.

It may also be worth you joining www.arboleas.co.uk the original Arboleas Forum just because there are masses of Brits. Join (24hrs) & post under General Chatter. Best.to try.to make contact with those sharing your pathology..No idea about Specialist Nurses or Clinics. We.are resident/Residencia in Murcia Province and generally have been TOTALLY unimpressed with the level of GP & Surgical ability. Others eulogise about it.

Best Wishes,

Dr. Bob and Sandra

Mojacar Playa and Puerto Lumbreras

Thank you for your help,it's a big worry that I have to get sorted before I can come to Spain,you have been most helpful

Hi

My partner and I are just going through registering for health care as we live permanently in Mojacar.  If you get the S1 form you will still need to get your residency before you can use it here.  Also our understanding is that you will then only be able to use your EHIC when you return to the UK as you are transferring your NHS care to Spain.  When we first came over my partner obtained 3-6 months supply of his prescription  for heart medication before we left so was able to bring it with him.  Not sure if you would be able to do this with insulin but may be worth asking.

Hope this helps.

Jackie

Thank you for your help,it's so difficult to sort these things out,but it's worth it to be in Spain.

Hi, youre S1 form is for pensionistas, ie people of pensionable age and is proof that you have sufficient state pension to get by the base requirement that you can afford to live here. Not sure you'd qualify if your not fully resident. Any help you may get will probably be based more on the assumption your a full time resident.

When we started the process to get on the Spanish medical system we visited the local surgery here in our village of Urcal and registered with them.

We had to get urine samples and bloodworks done, the Spanish system is very thorough, very.

To get your medical card you need to go through a few hoops and loops that include visiting the local medical centre, the local social security office, getting on the local Padron, the more people on the Padron, the more the money is given via Madrid.

You only mention your intending being here 6-7 months of the year, are you renting or buying a property ?, if your renting you'll need to get rental details, what you pay etc etc from your landlord, bit simpler if your buying as your solicitor will help you with paperwork, padron, residencia, a company called CAT Services can give you lots of help as well.

Partner used Mandy and Chris from Cam Concepts in Huercal Overa to buy her villa and we/she as well as lots of other people will recommend them most highly.

In addition to all the things needed to buy her villa, Mandy sorted out NIE's, and latterly Chris took us both down to the foreigners office in Almeria to get our Residencia which is a credit card sized chunk of information that proves name, address, resident status etc as well as your NIE.

Once youve got your medical card which usually takes around 3 weeks you can pop along to the doctors surgery again where they will assess the results of your bloodworks and urine samples, compare your current medications and recommend the Spanish equivalents.

Your medical card has your Spanish medical history, whatever meds you end up with is stored on that card, if your a pensionista you pay 10% of the full price of a prescription. You can get your meds re-filled at any of the myriad pharmacia, if any particular doesnt stock a medicine you can try another to complete your list or go back to your doctors who might stock what youre missing.

Theres a bit of paperwork and legwork involved getting registered but worth it in the end.

By all means get as much medication as you can from your current UK docs, it might be an idea to say your full time not part time.

I think we've covered most things but if not there'll be someone who can fill in the missing blanks so to speak.

Anything else just keep asking.

BTW we are both type 2 diabetic.

Ann n Jim.

Thank you very much was most helpful.

No worries, glad to be able to help in some way.

We bought our 81yr old dad with us and we did not need residency.  We went to the social security with his s1, NIE and padron plus proof that he lives with us and he was given a form. This had to be taken to the medical centre who in turn then sent out his green card.  He is now woth the local surgery and gets his regular meducation. There appears to be a lot of confusion over residency we did it without but some areas ask for it be careful to check. Yes a little leg work but not sure how you will go on for only a few months. Hope this help too.

Good luck Tina

Thanks Tina,being only over for a short time and not a resident is the problem,every bit of information is a help.