Spain's Surgical Waiting Lists Hit Record High of 853,509 Patients
Spain has recorded a historic high in surgical waiting lists, with 853,509 individuals currently awaiting operations, according to December 2025 data released by the Ministry of Health. This figure represents an increase of nearly 21,000 patients since last June and 7,000 more than the previous year. While the average wait time for surgery remains stable at 121 days, it is significantly higher than the 93 days recorded in 2018, indicating that the healthcare system has stabilized at worse performance levels than pre-pandemic standards. Approximately 21.6% of patients wait over six months for surgery. Regional disparities are evident, with Andalusia, Catalonia, and Extremadura experiencing the longest surgical delays, while Madrid, the Basque Country, and Galicia report the shortest waits. For specialist consultations, the Canary Islands, Navarra, and Aragón face the longest delays. Plastic surgery, neurosurgery, and otorhinolaryngology are the specialties with the longest waiting periods. These statistics corroborate declining public confidence in the public health system, as reflected in recent citizen surveys, highlighting a persistent structural challenge in Spanish healthcare accessibility and efficiency.
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Spain's Surgical Waiting Lists Hit Record High of 853,509 Patients
Spain has recorded a historic high in surgical waiting lists, with 853,509 individuals currently awaiting operations, according to December 2025 data released by the Ministry of Health. This figure represents an increase of nearly 21,000 patients since last June and 7,000 more than the previous year. While the average wait time for surgery remains stable at 121 days, it is significantly higher than the 93 days recorded in 2018, indicating that the healthcare system has stabilized at worse performance levels than pre-pandemic standards. Approximately 21.6% of patients wait over six months for surgery. Regional disparities are evident, with Andalusia, Catalonia, and Extremadura experiencing the longest surgical delays, while Madrid, the Basque Country, and Galicia report the shortest waits. For specialist consultations, the Canary Islands, Navarra, and Aragón face the longest delays. Plastic surgery, neurosurgery, and otorhinolaryngology are the specialties with the longest waiting periods. These statistics corroborate declining public confidence in the public health system, as reflected in recent citizen surveys, highlighting a persistent structural challenge in Spanish healthcare accessibility and efficiency.
elpais