Your assigned health centre (referred to in Spanish as the “centro de salud”) depends on the neighbourhood where you live. You must register by giving them your social security number and address. If you don’t have the card, you may request one upon registration (it may take up to one year to receive it). The community health centre will assign a doctor to you. This doctor will be your GP (in Spanish, it’s referred to as the “medico de cabecera”).
You must always first see this doctor and, if necessary, this doctor will refer you to a specialist. If you are not happy with your doctor, you may ask your health centre to assign you a different doctor. In order to see your doctor, you either go to the health centre or call for an appointment. The telephone number is indicated on your health card. If you are ill and cannot work yet your GP cannot see you for several hours/days, you must go to the on-call doctor at the same health centre (this is considered an emergency).
You must first go to the reception desk and they will give you a paper to see the doctor. You must first see your GP to get an appointment with a specialist. You explain your symptoms to your GP who will make the appointment directly for you. You will receive a paper with the appointment details and specialist’s name. Do not lose this document; you will be asked for it when you see the specialist.