A COSTA Blanca hospital is offering check-ups to European holidaymakers and has been advertising this as one of its 'unique selling points' at the recent FITUR international tourism trade fair in Madrid.
Whilst complaints against so-called 'health tourism' have been met with conflicting responses – former British Ambassador for Spain Giles Paxman publicly refuted claims that UK nationals were 'deliberately' travelling to the country to make use of its health service, the European Directive on cross-border healthcare passed in October now means that any EU citizen can opt for medical treatment in any member State.
In any case, where tourists from any EU member State are treated in another, the health authorities of the latter country has always claimed back the costs from the patient's country of residence.
But since October, this situation has become easier and also means residents who are not working and therefore paying social security, and are not yet State pension age, no longer fall into the loophole of not being covered for medical assistance – provided they are EU nationals.
Dr Rafael Giménez, area manager for the Quirón Hospital in Torrevieja (Alicante province) says the southern Costa Blanca town should be 'one of the reception points' for tourists who 'seek to undergo operations and receive quality treatment', taking advantage of the fact they are already on holiday in the area.
The hospital, which is privately managed, has some of the latest technology in diagnostic, detection and prevention, a team of free interpreters, highly-professional and experienced staff who treat every patient as an individual, according to Giménez.
The programme of medical check-ups for European holidaymakers is part of a joint effort with the travel agency that forms part of the department store chain El Corte Inglés, with the latter offering a wide range of hotels and other types of holiday accommodation close to the Las Lagunas salt-flat nature reserve, to Torrevieja town itself and the the beaches.
The demand for private healthcare by foreigners comes mainly from the UK, Holland, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium, although Torrevieja wants to open this up to Russia.
