Pharmacy and prescriptions in Spain

In Spain you can walk into a pharmacy and get products such as antibiotics over the counter without a prescription - but note that if you have a prescription you will be able to redeem the costs so keep receipts and papers for reimbursement if applicable.

 

Pharmacies are generally open between 9.30am - 2pm and 5pm - 9.30pm Mondays to Fridays, from 9.30am to around 2pm on Saturdays.  There should be contact details there for a 24-hour pharmacy.

 

Doctors in the emergency departments of state health service hospitals will prescribe medicines on the appropriate medical report, but do not issue official prescriptions.  You should take the report to a primary care doctor who will write a prescription for you.

 

You can collect medicines prescribed by health service practitioners from any pharmacy ('farmacia') and you will have to pay up to 40 per cent of the cost unless you are a UK or European Economic Area (EEA) pensioner, in which case the medicines will be free of charge.

To get the medicine free of charge you must show proof that you are a state pensioner, otherwise you will be charged 40 per cent of the cost, although this can be claimed back on your return to the UK.

 

If you take regular medication note that brand and names of the medicine because the names can vary from country to country so ask your doctor for the generic name of your medicine so you know what to ask for in Spain.  If you take regular medication, are on a course of treatment or suffer with a long term medical condition, ask your English doctor to write a short statement about this and take this with you when you go to Spain.

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