Health Destination

SPAIN’S thriving healthcare sector

The main drivers of Spain’s medical technologyindustry are its world-class infrastructure, strongR&D capabilities, and highly skilled workforce. Thecountry also has a well-developed manufacturing sector, and is a leading exporter of medical devices

Spain is a country in southwestern Europe with parts of territory in the Atlantic Ocean and across the Mediterranean Sea. The largest part of Spain is situated on the Iberian Peninsula; its territory also includes the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla and several minor overseas territories also scattered along the Moroccan coast of the

Spanish Healthcare Sector

The Spanish National Healthcare System, founded on Spain’s General Healthcare Act of 1986, guarantees universal
coverage and free healthcare access to all Spanish nationals, regardless of economic situation or participation in
the social security network.

Spain is a developed country with a wellfunctioning healthcare system. The Spanish healthcare sector is made up of
both public and private institutions.

The Spanish healthcare system is principally funded through taxation. The country’s total healthcare expenditure,
amounts to 88,828 million euro, which accounts for 8.5 percent of the GDP. Public healthcare expenditure accounts
for 6.1 percent of GDP and represents an expense per inhabitant of 1,421 euro. The central government provides nancial support to each region based on population and demographic criteria.

The National Health System has 2,914 health centers and 10,202 local clinics providing basic healthcare services to the local population. In 2009 there were 804 hospitals operating in Spain. The National Health System has 315 hospitals, equipped with 105,505 beds, and four Ministry of Defence’s hospitals contributing with 995 beds. The
remainder 465 hospitals are privately run and have 53,013 beds, which totals to 160,981 beds installed in Spain’s hospitals. Public hospitals are generally much larger than private hospitals and deal with a much higher number of patients.

The Spanish healthcare system is considered to be one of the best in the world. It is ranked as the seventh best healthcare system in the world by the World Health Organization. The Spanish healthcare system is made up of both public and private institutions.

Medical technology sector

Spain has a prosperous and thriving medical technology industry, and is a world leader in the production of medical devices. The country’s medical devices sector is highly sophisticated, and is home to some of the world’s leading medical device companies.

Spain’s medical technology industry is worth an estimated €9.5 billion, and employs around 100,000 people. The sector is made up of more than 2,000 companies, most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Spanish medical device companies are among the most innovative in the world, and are at the forefront of new
technological developments.

According to official figures, the private healthcare sector accounts for 2.7 percent of GDP, while the public sector accounts for 7.7 percent. The regions of Madrid and Catalonia account for over 80 percent of medical
equipment sales.

With a population of over 47 million, and the fourth largest economy in the EU, Spain is an important market for medical products. Public healthcare institutions currently represent 75-80 percent of the healthcare sector and are the main purchasers of medical equipment and supplies. These entities include public hospitals, health
centers, and research institutes, etc. Comprehensive medical attention is available to all Spaniards. The weight of the private healthcare sector continues to increase, especially in healthcare insurance, which presently provides coverage to approximately 10 million and is anticipated to continue increasing, particularly given the need for greater public/private collaboration as a result of the current global pandemic. According to
official gures, the private healthcare sector accounts for 2.7 percent of GDP, while the public sector accounts for 7.7 percent. The regions of Madrid and Catalonia account for over 80 percent of medical equipment sales.

The main drivers of Spain’s medical technology industry are its world-class infrastructure, strong R&D capabilities, and highly skilled workforce. The country also has a well-developed manufacturing sector, and is a leading exporter of medical devices.

Some of the world’s leading medical device companies are based in Spain, including Becton Dickinson, Medtronic, Philips, and Siemens. These companies have a signicant presence in the Spanish market, and are responsible for the development and production of some of the world’s most innovative medical devices.

The sector is currently undergoing a period of consolidation, with a number of small companies merging to create larger, more competitive businesses. This is expected to lead to further innovation and growth in the industry.

The Spanish medical technology industry is a key driver of the country’s economy, and is forecast to grow at a rate of 4.5% per year over the next ve years. The sector is currently undergoing a period of consolidation, with a number of small companies merging to create larger, more competitive businesses. This is expected to lead to further innovation and growth in the industry.

Pharmaceutical industry

The Spanish pharmaceutical industry is a key and strategic sector for Spain’s economy, as was clearly demonstrated by the pandemic. In the past 25 years, the sector has become hugely signicant and an important driver of Spanish exports and private R&D investment.

According to recent IQVIA and industry association reports, the Spanish pharma market, valued at EUR 21.6 billion per year, continues to grow at a relatively slow pace.Other key trends include the fact that generics penetration in Spain has remained at a constant level for almost seven years and private capital raised by biotech
companies skyrocketed in 2020.

In 2019, the industry generated a revenue of almost 22 billion euros. Spain has, in fact, the fth-largest
pharmaceutical market in Europe in terms of revenue and the ninth-largest market worldwide. In 2020, the country exported 12.25 billion euros worth of pharmaceutical products, mainly to Switzerland, Germany, and
France. The value of imported pharmaceuticals was 15.33 billion euros. Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium were the main exporters of pharmaceutical products to Spain.