I’ve just returned to reality after 10 days living in the land of flu, which served to remind me of one important thing: how great Spain’s public health system is. You feel ill, you call the doctors in the morning, they see you that same day, for free, and prescribe you medicine that you only have to pay a tiny percentage of.
OK, so that’s the same all over most of Europe, but I just wanted to point out again how fast and efficient the whole process was. Can’t say the same for the flu unfortunately. It was slow, and annoying.
Back to another of my favourite gripes (I think that might have been a bilingual pun!), Being pregnant is a fag in Spain is the title of an interesting article in today’s Telegraph, in which Michaela Rossi can’t believe the attitude to smoking and pregnancy/kids in Spain. It’s a good read, and seems totally accurate.
Fortunately for Michaela and other parents (like ourselves) who don’t like mixing kids and smoke, the health minister, Trinidad Jiménez, has been out this morning promising once more that there will absolutely be a full smoking ban in closed public spaces, including restaurants and bars, in 2010.
Let’s hope it’s early 2010! And in the mean time, Melissa, don’t forget downstairs in Casa Mingo.
bill (Legazpi)
14 Dec 09 at 7:38 pm
Good news about the smoking ban (if it happens
).
Also an interesting article here on expats complaining that they can’t just turn up in Spain and get free health care, even though they don’t work and have never contributed in any way to the Spanish health system:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/expat/annanicholas/10136224/are-sickly-brits-asking-too-much-of-spain/
Frank
14 Dec 09 at 7:38 pm
“You feel ill, you call the doctors in the morning, they see you that same day, for free, and prescribe you medicine that you only have to pay a tiny percentage of.”
That certainly happens in my neck of the woods in UK, you phone up in the morning, and see the doctor of your choice that day. Everything, all the different clinics, minor operations, pharmacy, optician etc all under the same roof. And living in Wales, all medicines have been free for quite some time!
david villa
14 Dec 09 at 8:21 pm
GOOD NEWS FOR ALL
El Ministerio de Sanidad y Política Social prohibirá fumar en espacios públicos cerrados, locales de ocio y restaurantes en 2010, anunció este lunes la ministra del ramo, Trinidad Jiménez, que destacó que existe un “grado de consenso bastante amplio”.
En declaraciones a Rac1 recogidas por Europa Press, Jiménez dijo que “el problema no es que se fume en lugares públicos, sino en lugares públicos cerrados”, y en este sentido descartó prohibir fumar en terrazas y plazas de toros.
La ministra constató que las “conversaciones están muy avanzadas” y la posición es bastante mayoritaria en el seno del conjunto de grupos políticos.
“En la medida en que consigamos consenso político, conseguiremos consenso social”, dijo, y aseguró que la decisión “es muy fundada”, puesto que está basada en la “protección de la salud”. “Estamos culturalmente preparados para adoptarlo ya, y estamos en esa fase final de la negociación”, remarcó.
Victor
14 Dec 09 at 8:22 pm
Good to hear you’re back from the flu! And regarding the smoking ban: I hope it’s not early 2010 but early january 2010 because I hate smokers in bars and restaurants! It’s just absurd that you cannot go out for a coffee and come back home without a horrible smell and as if you had smoked!
Mike
14 Dec 09 at 9:45 pm
haha, sometimes Spain can be a world apart. Check out my blog if you like Madrid or Spain in general. It´s
Travel stories off the beaten track!
Frank
16 Dec 09 at 12:25 am
Some interesting thoughts from the many Spanish nurses working in Uk here.
http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/index.html?page=2#648346
Gary
17 Dec 09 at 4:40 pm
Wow – almost had a fit… when I read the title I actually thought Ben had ‘gone back to smoking’ now that he was over the flu!!!