How does the Catalan healthcare system work?
Anyone living in Catalonia can access the public health system, regardless of residency status
primary care
Cancer diagnoses in primary care centers return to pre-pandemic levels
Work increased by 30% on 2019 despite empty waiting rooms
Diagnoses of common illnesses fell by up to 50% during pandemic, says study
Cases of anxiety rose by 16% at three Barcelona primary care centers analyzed by IDIBAPS researchers
Family doctors postpone strike to face second wave of Covid-19
Trade union is "putting caring for people's health ahead of medical staffs’ working conditions"
Family doctors’ strike followed by 55%, say organizers; not even 20% did, say authorities
4-day strike began on Tuesday to denounce "collapse" of healthcare system
2,000 new primary care jobs to be created this year
Government to spend €127m through 2022 as a response to Covid-19
The online and telephone consultations during Covid-19 that helped expand the healthcare system
Primary care centres played a vital role in avoiding the collapse of the healthcare system during the coronavirus pandemic
Health centers begin testing for coronavirus immunity
Catalan CAPs part of Spainwide study of antibodies in blood aiming to find out how long defenses against Covid-19 last
The age of ageing: Barcelona’s growing elderly population
Like many major European cities, Barcelona is ageing fast. In the years ahead the city must grapple with many of the problems associated with an increasingly top heavy demographic: as the over-65 population burgeons, health and social services are stretched, the financing of pensions is challenged, and a growing number of frail and vulnerable people face competing over declining resources. Today’s elderly cohort constitutes a greater proportion of Barcelona’s population than ever before, and, perhaps most worryingly, face an increased likelihood of living alone. But all is not doom and gloom, as the city enjoys an active, dynamic and engaged elderly population, the health and social sector rises to meet the challenges, and the labour market benefits from what are known as the ‘super-grandmothers.’
Catalonia reduces the less used primary health services to save money, generating citizen protests
The Catalan Government is reducing public deficit and cutting public spending by 10% this year. All areas are affected, including healthcare, which is one of the departments with a smaller percentage budget reduction. Last August, 25 community health centres (CAP) reduced their opening hours, closing their emergency room during nights and weekends as they were scarcely used; as of this September, another 21 centres in a similar situation have been added to the list. Citizens have been camping in some CAPs to protest about the decision.