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As an EU
country,
Spain
has free
reciprocal
health
agreements
with
other
member
states (you
should
carry
form
E111,
available
from
main
post
offices).
Even so,
some
form of
travel
insurance
is still
all but
essential;
with it,
you
should
be able
to claim
back the
cost of
any
drugs
prescribed
by
pharmacies.
European
policies
generally
also
cover
your
baggage/tickets
in case
of theft,
so long
as you
get a
report
from the
local
police.
No
inoculations
are
required
for
Spain,
though
if you
plan on
continuing
to North
Africa,
typhoid
and
polio
boosters
are
highly
recommended.
The
worst
that's
likely
to
happen
to you
is that
you
might
fall
victim
to an
upset
stomach.
To be
safe,
wash
fruit
and
avoid
tapas
dishes
that
look as
if they
were
cooked
last
week.
For
minor
complaints
go to a
farmacia
-
they're
listed
in the
phone
book in
major
towns
and
you'll
find one
in
virtually
every
village.
Pharmacists
are
highly
trained,
willing
to give
advice (often
in
English),
and able
to
dispense
many
drugs
which
would be
available
only on
prescription
in most
other
countries.
They
keep
usual
shop
hours
(9am-1.30pm
&
5.30-8pm),
but some
open
late and
at
weekends
while a
rota
system
keeps at
least
one open
24 hours.
The rota
is
displayed
in the
window
of every
pharmacy,
or you
can
check in
one of
the
local
newspapers
under
Farmacias
de
guardia
.
In
more
serious
cases
you can
get the
address
of an
English-speaking
doctor
from the
nearest
relevant
consulate,
or with
luck
from a
farmacia
, the
local
police
or
turismo.
If you
have
special
medical
or
dietary
requirements,
it is
advisable
to carry
a letter
from
your
doctor,
translated
into
Spanish,
indicating
the
nature
of your
condition
and
necessary
treatments.
In
emergencies
dial 091
for the
Servicios
de
Urgencia
, or
look up
the
Cruz
Roja
Española
(Red
Cross)
which
runs a
national
ambulance
service.
Treatment
at
hospitals
for EU
citizens
in
possession
of form
E111 is
free;
otherwise
you'll
be
charged
at
private
hospital
rates,
which
can be
very
expensive.
Accordingly,
it's
essential
to have
comprehensive
travel
insurance.
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