- Time of past OR future Camino
- First one in 1977 by train. Many since then by foot. Next one ASAP.
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Recently, halfway through my 2nd Camino, I tripped and fell crossing the street in El Virgin del Camino. I sustained a messy compound fracture of the little finger of my right hand.
A very professional rescue squad was quickly on the scene and transported me to the large hospital in nearby Leon. There I was admitted to the emergency room, examined and x-rayed. Surgery was needed, and immediately undertaken - with complete success. A few more x-rays and then I was bandaged and sent on my way with prescriptions for antibiotics and painkillers. In and out in 4 hours!
The fact that I had my passport and travel insurance contact information on me, in a money belt, doubtless expedited things. Speaking a bit of Spanish helped too, I'm sure, but once the hospital saw my docs there was no trouble about fees. I was not asked to pay a single euro.
The treatment I received was world-class, comparable to anything I might have received in the 'States, or better. Viva Espana!
But surely the EHIC card should ensure free treatment?The current system for foreign Pilgrims seems to be to make a copy of your passport and send you a bill at home much later.
This bill, from personal experience, can be ridiculously low or ridiculously high. You can submit that to your travel medical insurance when you get it.
You may fall between the cracks and never receive the bill. Don't count on it, though the chances are ever greater you will be billed as they get their system refined.
This has been going on for the last couple of years.
A few years ago there was not a system in place and you would usually have received treatment without being charged. This has changed.
Medical travel insurance is cheap and a very good idea.
But surely the EHIC card should ensure free treatment?
I buy cephalexin, amoxycilin and predisone on each of my walks, and in great quantities as it's foe my dog for the year, never have been asked for a prescription. But I needed a diurretic once and the fist farmacia wanted to send me to the local clinic to get a prescription; I just went to the farmacia 200 meters down the road and got what I needed.A question: I walked in May 2015 and about two weeks in had broncitis and sinus infection at the same time for about a week. I just toughed it out. Later, I was told you can get inexpensive antibiotics at the Pharmacy without a doctor perscription as needed in the U.S. What can you get in a Spainish pharmacy that one can not get in the U.S.? Some Cipro (or something) would have been nice.
I buy cephalexin, amoxycilin and predisone on each of my walks, and in great quantities as it's foe my dog for the year, never have been asked for a prescription. But I needed a diurretic once and the fist farmacia wanted to send me to the local clinic to get a prescription; I just went to the farmacia 200 meters down the road and got what I needed.
Yes, fiRst, thank you Margaret.could you clarify what is a "fist farmacia" you mentioned
Good advice. I also asked my cardio-doc to give me a one page write up of my conditions and treatments. He was happy to do it. Just in case. (Copies and scanned into a pdf.)I had packed about 2lb of heart medicine, At the time I was not sure what I could have gotten with my prescriptions but I wasn't going to trust I could get what I needed. Now I have no doubt if I had to get anything I needed, probably just by showing them the pill. Way less expensive than in the U.S. But if someone is concerned just take paper prescription labels with you.
Yes we found this too. It helps if the pharmacy 'specialises'. Eg if you need drops for an eye infection go to a pharmacy that has an opticians attached. Also we have found the farmacias in smaller towns and cities more helpful than in the large ones. We did wonder if some of the attitudes/rules are regional as farmacias in Galicia and Asturias have always been helpful but in Cantabria less so, although in Santander we did eventually find a farmacia to help us.I have occasionally found a farmacia that insisted on a Spanish doctor's prescription, but a few hundred meters down the road, there is usually a farmacia with a different attitude.
Recently, halfway through my 2nd Camino, I tripped and fell crossing the street in El Virgin del Camino. I sustained a messy compound fracture of the little finger of my right hand.
A very professional rescue squad was quickly on the scene and transported me to the large hospital in nearby Leon. There I was admitted to the emergency room, examined and x-rayed. Surgery was needed, and immediately undertaken - with complete success. A few more x-rays and then I was bandaged and sent on my way with prescriptions for antibiotics and painkillers. In and out in 4 hours!
The fact that I had my passport and travel insurance contact information on me, in a money belt, doubtless expedited things. Speaking a bit of Spanish helped too, I'm sure, but once the hospital saw my docs there was no trouble about fees. I was not asked to pay a single euro.
The treatment I received was world-class, comparable to anything I might have received in the 'States, or better. Viva Espana!
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