Satisfaction with Madrid healthcare reaches its highest level

Satisfaction with Madrid health system has seen significant improvement over the past four years, according to a study by Ipsos on the perception of public health in Spain.

It indicates that 77% of Madrid users of public health declare themselves satisfied with healthcare in the regionnine points more than in 2021. In addition, one in five citizens (21%) gives the maximum grade of outstanding, two points more than four years ago.

In parallel, dissatisfaction has fallen sharplyfrom 21% to 14%. The improvement is observed in all the aspects evaluated, with notable advances in digitalization, reduction of waiting times and accessibility of the healthcare professional, with an increase in satisfaction of 17% in the first two and 16% in accessibility.

He also points out that there is a strong growth in the use of free health choice in Madrid. In Primary Care, it has gone from 34% in 2021 to 49% in 2025; in specialized, from 17% to 26%; and in hospital, from 15% to 28%. According to Silvia Bravo, Director of Research at Ipsos, “the increase in the exercise of free choice in Madrid shows a cultural change towards a patient that is more informed, demanding and involved in making decisions about their health.”

The survey also analyzes the main factors that lead Madrid residents to change doctors, specialists or hospitals. In Primary Care, the doctor’s lack of empathy has become the most cited reason for exercising free choice (25%, compared to 19% in 2021), while the location of the center loses weight (24% compared to 31%) and dissatisfaction with the previous service gains relevance (23% compared to 21%).

In specialized care, the waiting time for the consultation remains the main reason (31%), without variations compared to 2021, followed by a decrease in dissatisfaction with the previous service (from 28% to 21%) and in the importance of the location (19% compared to 24%). Finally, in hospital care, waiting time becomes the determining factor (29%, compared to 26% four years ago), while location falls sharply from 40% to 27% and dissatisfaction with the previous service registers a slight increase, going from 11% to 15%.

Free choice

He Jiménez Díaz Foundation University Hospital It remains the hospital most chosen by Madrid residents when they exercise their free choice. 4% of respondents selected it as their destination hospital after a change, two points more than in 2021. They are followed by the La Paz, Gregorio Marañón and 12 de Octubre university hospitals, with 2% each (the latter is up one point compared to 2021).

Likewise, if all Madrid residents could change hospitals, the Jiménez Díaz and La Paz Foundation would be the favorites by 7% of citizens, followed by Gregorio Marañón (6%). “The leadership of hospitals like the Jiménez Díaz Foundation reflects not only its prestige and reputation, but also the capacity of the Madrid system to offer quality options in the exercise of the right to choose,” says Silvia Bravo.

Madrid is positioned as one of the territories that leads in citizen perception of health quality, along with the Basque Country and the Balearic Islands. The community also stands out for the high proportion of citizens who give healthcare an outstanding rating (21%), well above the national average (10%).