73.9% of Spanish citizens prefer public healthcare for hospitalization and complex cases compared to 23.9% who choose private care. These figures highlight a strong preference for a public healthcare system, although opinions vary significantly depending on the autonomous community of residence. According to the 2025 Health Barometer prepared by the Sociological Research Center (CIS) and the Ministry of Health, 51.6% of the Spanish population maintains a positive assessment of the overall functioning of the public health system.
Regional Variability in Perception of Healthcare
The Health Barometer underlines a stark variability in public health perceptions across different regions. Cantabria stands out, with a favorable opinion from 66.4% of its residents—14.8 points above the national average. In contrast, Andalusia reports the lowest satisfaction rate at 38.8%, indicating a significant gap of 27.6 percentage points between the two communities.
Utilization of Emergency Services in Madrid
Regarding emergency care, 48.7% of the population utilized these services over the past year. While 72.4% of users rated the care positively, accessibility to services heavily relies on the organizational structure in each autonomous community. The Community of Madrid reported the highest use of hospital emergencies in Spain at 68.6%. Conversely, regions like the Canary Islands and Extremadura see over 55% of cases managed by Primary Care, lightening the burden on emergency services.
Primary Care Satisfaction Across Regions
When it comes to Primary Care, 80.8% of individuals over 18 have engaged with these services at least once in the last year. Out of this group, 80.4% rated their experience as “good or very good.” However, satisfaction levels show regional disparities, with Cantabria and the Basque Country leading at 90%. In contrast, regions such as Galicia and the Valencian Community reported satisfaction levels below 73%.
The average waiting time to see a family doctor nationwide is 9.15 days, with the Basque Country enjoying the shortest wait of 4.91 days. In contrast, residents of Andalusia face the longest delays, averaging 11.1 days, followed closely by Catalonia at 10.5 days.
Hospitalization Ratings from Public Patients
For hospital admissions, 81.4% of patients viewed their experience positively, giving it an average score of 7 out of 10. Cantabria again leads with an average score of 7.64, followed by Asturias at 7.55 and the Basque Country at 7.53. However, this rating falls to 6.62 in the Canary Islands and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.
Despite the generally positive feedback, coordination between Primary Care services and hospitals lags, with only 49.4% approval. The Basque Country, with 65.8% positive feedback, contrasts sharply with the Canary Islands, where only 39.6% of respondents view coordination favorably.
Emergency Services and Mental Health Insights
Emergency services 061 and 112 are recognized as the best-rated in the public health system, achieving an average score of 7.26 points. Notably, Castile-La Mancha scores the highest at 7.90. The report also identifies a growing need for mental health services, with an anticipated 19.9% of the population seeking professional help for emotional or health issues by 2025. Among this group, 51.1% will primarily access public mental health services, which enjoy a 56% positive evaluation from users.
In summary, the report’s findings confirm a strong preference for public hospitalization at 73.9%, an increase of 11 percentage points since 2015, affirming the status of public hospitals as a crucial pillar for the Spanish population.