YOU DON'T have to be rich to make it onto the Forbes list – or, at least, a doctor's salary is enough, as 165 medics in Spain already know.
No single practitioner comes out first or 165th, and they are based in both the public health service and the private sector or, in some cases, dovetailing both.
The latest edition of Forbes España's book Best Doctors Spain is now out, splitting those named into a total of 27 specialist areas and including them based upon merits such as scientific achievements, awards or distinctions earned, their presence in the communications media, the opinions of their patients, their positive impact on the hospitals they work for, their positions of relevance in their field, and their contributions to care, research and training or education.
Editor of Forbes España Andrés Rodríguez says: “With this manual, we're seeking to recognise the excellence in Spanish health care in all areas.”
Spain has long been among the top countries in the world for quality of service and care and levels of training and techniques in medicine – although the actual care received, waiting times and doctors' knowledge is, like in all countries, a postcode lottery, the standard across the board is generally high.
Just like every health service in the world, its actual quality will always be affected by whether it receives just enough, insufficient, or more than ample funding, but in general, if a patient goes to his or her GP with a concern, symptom or issue, the correct referral to the nearest specialist or for whatever tests are necessary will be made immediately, any medication needed and which is covered by the public health system will be prescribed irrespective of the cost to the service, and nobody is made to 'feel silly' or 'feel guilty' for raising what is, to them personally, a legitimate concern.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com