Health Services
The General Health Law 14/1986, of April 25, establishes that the National Health System is the set of health services from the State Administration and the Autonomous Communities. It integrates all the health functions and services that are the responsibility of public authorities to ensure the fulfillment of the right to health protection. Along with this, the General Health Law establishes the universality of coverage as one of the basic characteristics of the Spanish system, determining that public healthcare will extend to the entire population.
It also sets equity as a general principle of the National Health System, understood as the guarantee that access to and healthcare services will be provided under conditions of effective equality.
You can contact 016 national domestic violence helpline for more guidance.
The General Health Law establishes the universality of coverage as one of the basic characteristics of the Spanish system, determining that public healthcare will extend to the entire population.
If you have experienced physical injuries or sexual violence, e.g. rape, it is important to seek medical care as quickly as possible.
Detecting possible situations of recent or past sexual violence is essential to begin restoring victims’ rights. Primary care and hospital settings can serve as key spaces for identifying recent or past gender-based violence, provided there is an active, supportive, and deliberate approach by healthcare professionals to inquire about such issues. It has been shown that women attending consultations are often able to speak up and disclose if they are, or have been, victims of gender-based violence, whether recent or in the past, when asked directly. It is crucial for healthcare professionals to gather and update information on the situations of women who come in for consultations, either through periodic inquiries or during the initial recording of a medical history.
The field of early detection of gender-based violence focuses on strengthening public services as key entry points for early identification, with particular emphasis on health centers, social services, specialized services, and the educational sector.