Families spend on health products

Each Spanish family spent on average 1,351 euros in the last year in health products and services not covered by public health, according to a survey by the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) carried out with a sample of 1,278 households between 18 and 74 years old. If private health insurance is excluded, which is paid by 48% of those surveyed, with an average cost of 765 euros, the average expense drops to 994 euros per year.

The most common item is medications: 222 euros on average among those who bought prescription drugs (90% of those surveyed) and 175 euros among those who purchased drugs without a prescription (77%). But the highest outlay is monopolized by dentist: Half of the families had dental expenses in the last year, with an average of 667 euros.

They are followed by glasses and contact lenseswith 361 euros among those who needed them (43% of households); the physiotherapy and rehabilitationwith 376 euros on average among the 20% who required them; and the psychological or psychiatric carewith 542 euros in 11% of the homes that needed it.

Economic pressure has direct consequences on health. 22% of households acknowledge having postponed or waived some necessary health expense for not being able to face it. Dental treatments are the most sacrificed – 18% delayed or discarded them – followed by glasses and contact lenses (13%). Medications, rehabilitation, psychological support or hearing aids are also postponed.

The consequences are not minor: in 43% of cases, this resignation had a negative effect on health or quality of life, and in 9% the impact was serious.

Expense varies significantly depending on the autonomous community. Murcia leads the disbursement with 1,558 euros annually, followed by Galicia (1,435 euros) and Canary Islands (1,331 euros). At the opposite extreme are Castile-La Mancha (736 euros), Catalonia (832 euros) and Andalusia (834 euros).

The OCU concludes that it is necessary reinforce public coverage in essential areas such as dental health and mental healthand guarantee economic access to basic treatments, especially for the most vulnerable groups.