Most people need to go to a chemist at some point during their stay in Spain. Spanish chemists differ to those in the UK, they are qualified similar to your local GP and this saves time by not having to go and find a doctor if it is a minor ailment. However, if you do need to see a doctor make sure that you have your EHIC - the blue health card with you when you go to the Centro de Salud (Health Centre) which you will find in every town.A pharmacist in Spain must own and run his own chemist, chain chemists (eg Boots) are not permitted in Spain and there is a limit to how many there can be per town ... its is worked out on a population basis( which is also they case for "Notari's). Farmacia's are also obliged to open 24 hours - but now that there are more than one per town they operate on a rota basis. You will find plenty of staff in them too!
Back in the "Old days" you had to visit the Farmacia to purchase anything to do with medication or first aid - even baby milk products. It was illegal for any other outlets to sell them! It is only in the last 10 years or so that supermarkets such as Mercadona have been allowed to sell plasters, dressings and very basic bits - they are still forbidden to sell any medication such as Aspirin or Ibuprofen. It was reported in the Spanish papers some weeks back there was a "Drugs bust at a British Shop" !! The headlines would have made you think that they had found stash of heroin or cocaine ... it turned out to be nothing more than paracetemol ! This seems strange when you can pop into Tesco or any corner shop in the UK and buy these items with no problem.
On the Spanish Security Security system, you pay 40% of the cost of medicines when you are given a prescription; they are free to pensioners or the disabled. Prescription medications in Spain are among the cheapest in the EU and if you pay for your prescriptions in the UK it may be worth you visiting the "Farmacia" whilst on holiday ! There are many things which you can purchase over the counter here which are available only on prescription back in the UK and with the cost now at £7.40 per item it can be extremely costly to be ill! The Scots and Welsh are exempt from these charges - its just the poor English ... and poor they are if they need repeat medication!
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| Available to buy over the counter |
Amoxcillin 500 antibiotic and Voltaren Retard 100mg anti-inflamatory are both prescription only items in the UK but can be bought for a few euros here in Spain. I always take some with me when I go back to the UK - you generally know when you need to take a course of antibiotics and it saves having to make an appointment at the GP and then pay £7.40 for them.
There is a very good 24 hour farmacia in Benidorm on the Avd Meditteraneo - about half way along if you need one. The staff all speak English and are very helpful.