Spain's Public Healthcare System Sees Rising Satisfaction Amid Flu Season Challenges
Spain's public healthcare satisfaction improves in 2025 amid flu season pressures, with notable gains in hospital and primary care ratings.
- • Hospital care satisfaction rises to 83.7%, five points higher than previous data.
- • Primary care access high with 82.3% visiting doctors and 80.1% satisfaction.
- • Emergency services rated positively at 71%.
- • Flu season pressures hospitals but peak of epidemic may be near.
Key details
The latest 2025 Health Barometer results reveal an overall improvement in Spain's public healthcare quality ratings, despite ongoing pressures from a severe flu season. The Ministry of Health reported an 83.7% positive rating for hospital care during inpatient stays, up five points from previous measures, reflecting heightened public approval. Primary care access remains high with 82.3% of Spaniards visiting a primary care doctor in the last year and an increased satisfaction rate of 80.1%, attributed largely to trust in medical and nursing staff. Emergency services also garnered a 71% positive rating.
However, some challenges persist, including wait times for primary care, with only 22% of patients seen within the same or next day and an average wait of 9.78 days. Diagnostic test delays vary significantly, with colonoscopies averaging 109.8 days wait. While 20% of respondents have private insurance, nearly two-thirds (65.6%) prefer public healthcare for serious conditions.
This positive trend contrasts with the current strain on the system caused by an intense flu season dominated by the new subclade K variant. Hospitals in Madrid and other regions face near-collapse conditions with increased hospitalizations and stretched emergency facilities. Experts note a plateau in flu cases, suggesting the epidemic peak may be near, but warn that holiday gatherings could complicate control efforts.
Despite operational pressures, public confidence in Spain's national healthcare system remains solid, buoyed by perceived quality improvements in hospital and primary care services amidst ongoing public health challenges.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
