The availability of medicines in general

Medicines are free of charge for hospital treatment, persons over 65 years of age with insufficient means of victims, as well as for victims of employment injuries and occupational diseases.

Otherwise, patients need to contribute 40 % of the price of medicines or 10% for certain special medicines with a maximum limit of € 2.64.[1]

The availability of Alzheimer treatments

All four anti-dementia drugs are available in Spain and are part of the reimbursement system.

Treatment initiation and continuation is limited to specialists and the reimbursement system requires specialists to carry out an MMSE of patients. Reimbursement with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors is limited to people with Alzheimer’s disease with an MMSE score of 23 and below and with memantine for an MMSE score of 17 and below.

There are no restrictions for people living alone or in nursing homes.

[1] European Commission (2006): MISSOC – Mutual information system on social protection : Social protection in the Member States of the European Union, of the European Economic Area and in Switzerland : Comparative tables