Challenges in Spain's Healthcare System: Insights from the 2025 Health Barometer

Recent findings from the 2025 Health Barometer, released by the Ministry of Health, reveal pressing issues within Spain's healthcare framework, particularly regarding access to mental health services and waiting times for diagnostic tests. According to the report, 375 patients who sought help for mental health issues in the past year did not receive treatment from specialized psychologists or psychiatrists; instead, they were attended to by their family doctors. Alarmingly, only 52 of the 206 individuals in need of psychological consultations managed to get an appointment in public healthcare within a year, with just 25 securing a slot in less than a month. The statistics are stark: 225 patients had to wait up to two months, while 213 faced waits of up to three months, and an unfortunate 167 waited between four and six months. In terms of diagnostic procedures, the data indicates a troubling trend in waiting times. While 23% of the population underwent an ultrasound, 16% had a CT scan, 15.2% underwent MRI, and 4.8% received a colonoscopy in the last year, the waiting lists for these tests reveal a different story. Colonoscopy patients face the longest waits, averaging 113 days, while MRIs take about 73 days and ultrasounds and CT scans take 61 and 56 days, respectively. When it comes to waiting lists more generally, nearly half (46%) of respondents feel that the situation has not changed, while 34% believe it has worsened. Only 9.6% perceive an improvement in the waiting times. Furthermore, 60% of those surveyed did not experience delays in consulting their family doctors about their symptoms or illnesses. However, almost 69% waited more than one day to secure an appointment, with only 21% being seen on the same or next day. In emergency situations, over a quarter of respondents reported waiting between two and four hours. The report also highlights the lengthy intervals patients endure when waiting for specialist consultations. An unsettling 26.7% of respondents reported waiting six months or more between their initial visit to their primary care doctor and the subsequent visit to a specialist. Incorporating technology into healthcare has become a contentious issue. The report indicates that many patients are uncomfortable with the use of artificial intelligence in medical settings. Half of the participants expressed discomfort in communicating with a virtual assistant, while 42% had reservations about AI monitoring their illnesses. A concerning 37% felt uneasy regarding the prospect of a surgical operation performed by a robot, and 31% were not comfortable with AI interpreting their X-rays. Moreover, the use of the Internet for checking medical histories is also limited. Approximately 66.6% of respondents have never checked their medical history online, with 34.4% unaware of this possibility and 20.6% lacking the necessary skills to utilize the Internet. Despite these challenges, there is a noted preference for public healthcare among the populace, with over 70% indicating that they would rather consult public healthcare for family doctor visits, pediatric care, hospital admissions, and emergencies. However, this preference wanes when it comes to specialist consultations, where only 57% favor public solutions. A significant proportion of respondents rated the functioning of the public healthcare system positively, with nearly 29% giving a score higher than 8. The most common score, a 7, was rated by 21.7% of participants, while 20.4% assigned it a score under 5. Finally, health insurance coverage remains an important aspect of overall healthcare access, with 19.7% of respondents having private health insurance either individually or through family, while an additional 9.7% maintain coverage through their employers. The 2025 Health Barometer paints a complex picture of Spain's healthcare system, revealing both commendable strengths and critical challenges that necessitate immediate attention to ensure that all citizens have access to timely and effective medical care. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2