Nacho Barrueco, a Spanish TIkTok user, who has lived in Ireland for two years, shared a revealing video on his account @nachobarrueco_ where compares the healthcare experience between Spain and Ireland, highlighting the virtues of their country’s healthcare system.
In the video, Nacho emphasizes the quality and accessibility of the Spanish health system, expressing surprise at the notable difference he has perceived since moving to Ireland. “Little is said about the fact that in Spain we have one of the best health systems in the world, and if not the best, I’m realizing it now since I live in Ireland.”pointed out the boy.
The Spaniard recounted a personal experience that illustrates the differences between both countries: “I have a historic headache, normally in Spain I would go to the doctor and in Ireland it doesn’t occur to me to go because if I make an appointment for the doctor, they will give me one for in two weeks and They are going to charge me 100 euros”. This disparity in healthcare access and costs between the two countries makes it clear to Barrueco that the Spanish system is superior in terms of accessibility.
Furthermore, the boy expressed his frustration at the lack of seriousness towards foreigners in the Irish health system: “When you show the European health card it seems like they laugh in your face”, lament. This lack of consideration for foreigners adds another layer of difficulty for those seeking medical care in Ireland.
In contrast to his experience in Spain, Barrueco praises the speed and breadth of medical care available in his native country. “In five days I had time to go, publicly, to the family doctor and emergency room, and privately, I was able to go to the traumatologist and dermatologist among others and all this without having an appointment,” he said about his last trip to his city. .
“I know many Spanish people who have had something happen to them and they have had to return to Spain because it is not feasible in Ireland”the boy concluded in his defense.
“You’re right, but Spanish healthcare has gotten a lot worse in recent years, and it’s a shame… a year for a visit from a traumatologist or ENT doctor and almost a month to get an appointment with the family doctor”, “I thought the Irish healthcare system was free like the one in Spain”, “Did you come back for 5 days and did you have time to go to the doctor? They give me an appointment in almost 20 days”, “You don’t value what you have until you lose it”, “Finally a young man with a head for TikTok. Thank you!”, “In one day they did blood, urine and ultrasound tests… Spain is the best,” were some of the comments from users of the platform.
