- Online consultation with a Spanish-registered, English-speaking doctor. Best for refills of established medication and common minor illness. Same day. EUR 50 only if a prescription is issued.
- In-person private clinic that markets to international patients. Best for anything that needs an examination. EUR 50 to EUR 150 per visit, usually same-day or next-day.
- Public emergency room (Urgencias) for anything urgent. English availability varies, but most large city hospitals have at least one English-speaking clinician on shift.
The route you choose depends on whether you need someone to examine you, write you a prescription, or both. The remaining sections of this guide walk through each option in turn.
Spanish pharmacies (farmacias) are visibly marked with a green cross and are open across the country with extended hours. Spanish pharmacists are clinically trained and empowered to advise on a wider range of issues than a typical US pharmacist. For many common minor problems, you do not need a doctor at all.
A Spanish pharmacist can help directly with:
- Over-the-counter pain relief, allergy medication, and skin care
- Identifying an equivalent for a US over-the-counter product you cannot find
- Advice on minor symptoms - is this something you can wait out, or should you see a doctor
- Emergency contraception (available over the counter in Spain)
- Common cold sores treatments, antifungal creams, traveler's diarrhea remedies
A pharmacist cannot:
- Refill a US prescription (see our flagship guide)
- Dispense antibiotics, controlled substances, or most prescription-only medication without a Spanish receta
- Issue a prescription themselves - that is a doctor's role
If your situation is "I need more of the medication I take regularly back home", you need a Spanish doctor, not a pharmacist. The pharmacy is the second step.
For refills of established medication and common minor conditions, an online consultation is usually the fastest route. There is no scheduled video call - the consultation is asynchronous. You submit your details, a Spanish-registered doctor reviews them the same day, and if appropriate, you receive an electronic Spanish prescription.
How The Holiday Doctor works
You complete a short consultation form: medication name, dose, frequency, condition treated, basic medical history, and evidence of your US prescription. A Spanish-registered, English-native doctor reviews your request the same day. The doctor may follow up by phone or email to clarify a detail. If clinically appropriate, you receive an electronic Spanish prescription delivered to your inbox.
You take the collection code and photo ID to any Spanish pharmacy. The pharmacy retrieves the prescription from REMPe (Spain's national private electronic prescription system) and dispenses your medication.
Cost
EUR 50, charged only if a prescription is issued. If the doctor cannot help, for example because your situation needs an in-person examination or is outside scope, there is no charge.
When this is the right route
- You take a medication regularly back home and need a refill while in Spain
- You have evidence of what you take (US prescription label, pharmacy printout, or US doctor's note)
- Your situation does not need a physical examination to assess safely
- Your medication is not a controlled substance (see controlled medications in Spain)
For anything that needs a physical examination, an in-person clinic is the right route. The "international" or "expat" clinics in major Spanish cities are accustomed to US, UK, and other English-speaking patients and typically have multilingual staff.
What to look for
- Clinics that advertise English-speaking doctors directly. Search "English-speaking doctor Madrid" or the same for Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Malaga, Bilbao, Palma, or wherever you are.
- Clinics that take direct payment, since most US travel insurance reimburses you after the fact rather than paying the clinic directly.
- Same-day or next-day availability. A clinic with a multi-day wait is the wrong fit for a travel situation.
- Itemized receipt that names the doctor, the diagnosis, and the treatment - your insurer will need this.
Typical cost
EUR 50 to EUR 150 per consultation, depending on the city and the clinic. Specialty consultations (dermatology, gynecology) typically run EUR 80 to EUR 200. Add medication and any tests separately.
What to expect
A typical private consultation lasts 20 to 30 minutes. You will be asked to bring a photo ID and any relevant medical history. If you receive a prescription, it will be electronic (delivered via REMPe) and can be picked up at any Spanish pharmacy with the collection code.
Call 112 (the Spanish equivalent of 911) or go to the nearest Urgencias (emergency room) immediately. Do not wait for any online or in-person appointment.
112 dispatchers in Spain have access to English-language operators. State your location and the nature of the emergency clearly.
The Spanish public emergency system (Urgencias) will treat you regardless of insurance status. English availability varies by hospital, but most large city hospitals (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Malaga, the major Costas, Mallorca) have at least one English-speaking clinician on shift at any time. You may wait longer than at a US ER, particularly for non-life-threatening conditions.
Bring with you
- Photo ID (passport)
- Your US travel insurance policy details and emergency contact line
- A list of current medications (the screen of your US pharmacy app is enough)
- If you have a major condition, a one-page summary from your US doctor
For non-life-threatening but same-day situations - a sprain, a deep cut, a worrying rash - many cities also have urgent care clinics (sometimes called centros de urgencias or urgencias 24h) that handle walk-ins without going through a hospital ER. These are usually private and accept direct payment.
This varies significantly by your specific US health insurance policy, but a few general patterns hold:
Standard US health insurance abroad
Most standard US health insurance plans cover little to nothing while you are outside the United States. Medicare, in particular, does not cover care received abroad in most circumstances. Always check your specific policy before you travel.
Travel insurance (medical component)
Travel insurance policies vary widely. The better ones cover:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Prescription medication replacement if your supply is lost or runs out due to unforeseen circumstances
- Repatriation if you need medical evacuation
- Consultation with a doctor abroad
What travel insurance typically does not cover:
- Routine refills of medication for pre-existing conditions (the policy expected you to bring enough)
- Consultations that are essentially elective (a wellness check while on vacation)
- Anything related to a pre-existing condition that was not disclosed when buying the policy
Practical advice
Keep every receipt, every diagnosis letter, every prescription. Take a photo of each as a backup. File your claim within the time window your policy requires (usually 30 to 60 days). Most policies pay by reimbursement, not direct billing, so be prepared to pay up front.
The Holiday Doctor is a private online consultation service for adults physically in Spain. Our scope is narrow on purpose.
- Refills of established medication you already take regularly back home (with evidence)
- Common minor acute conditions: UTI (bladder infection), cold sores, seasonal allergies, traveler's diarrhea, fungal skin, insect bites
- Birth control continuation (same regimen you take in the US)
- Insulin continuation for adults already established on the same regimen
- Anything new - no new medication starts, no new diagnoses
- Controlled substances - ADHD stimulants, opioid pain medications, benzodiazepines, prescription sleep medications
- Medications requiring regular blood monitoring - anti-coagulants like warfarin, lithium, clozapine
- Insulin starts or complex diabetes regimen changes
- Anything that requires a physical examination to assess safely
- Mental health crises - we are not equipped to handle these online
If your situation is outside our scope, the consultation form will tell you immediately at no charge. The right route is usually an in-person clinic or, if urgent, Urgencias.
Important. The Holiday Doctor covers adults physically in Spain who already take a medication regularly back home and need a refill, or have a common minor acute condition. We are not a substitute for in-person medical care, do not prescribe controlled substances, and do not handle emergencies. For anything urgent, call 112 or go to Urgencias.