To register with a doctor in Tenerife, you must prove residency with documents like an empadronamiento certificate and foreigner registration card. You also need your Spanish national insurance number. Once registered, you will be assigned a doctor and issued a health card to make appointments and buy prescriptions. Appointments can be made online, by phone, or in person. Unless it's an emergency, your first contact is always your assigned GP, who can refer you to specialists if needed.

1. t e ne rif e f o rum .o rg.e s
http://tenerifefo rum.o rg.es/advice/registering-do cto r/
Registering with a Tenerife Doctor
Once you have conf irmation that you are entitled
to healthcare in Tenerif e your next step will be to
register with your local GP.
To do this you will have to prove that you are a
resident in the area by providing an
‘Empadronamiento Certif icate’, your Foreigners
Registration Certif icate/Card and proof of ID –
Passport. You will also have to show your Spanish
National Insurance number so they can f ind you in
their system.
If you are working there will be a note of this
number on your works contract or autonomo slip if
you are self -employed. For pensioners who have
processed the S1 document at the INSS in
Granadilla you will be issued with a f orm, which proves your entitlement to healthcare and will have a note
of your insurance number on.
You will be assigned a doctor and issued with a photocopy of your health card. T he original plastic health
card will eventually be sent through the post. You should keep this photocopied card with you at all times,
as it’s essential f or appointments and purchasing your prescription medication at the pharmacy.
To make an appointment you can call into the health centre in person and book in with the receptionist at
the desk, call 012 if you are a Spanish speaker or alternatively you can click on the f ollowing link and book
an appointment on line
http://www3.gobiernodecanarias.org/sanidad/scs/gc/18/cita_previa/
Make sure you have your health card to hand as you will be prompted to type in your CIP number, which is
f ound on your card or photocopy of the card. It’s very straightf orward to use and you can also check or
cancel existing appointments.
Unless you have an emergency, your f irst point of call is always your own GP. If you ever need an
appointment with a Specialist you will need a ref erral f rom your GP. T he only ambulatory in the South is a
centre called the ‘Mojon’; this of f ers all the usual ambulatory care services, including emergency visits,
blood tests, x-rays, physiotherapy and specialist consultations. For more serious cases you will be ref erred
to the Public Hospital Our Lady of Candelaria, situated in Of ra, near to Santa Cruz. T he South Public
Hospital is still under construction and probably will be f or some time.
T here are signs in all the medical centres advising you to bring an interpreter with you, however, you will
f ind that some Doctors are willing to speak English whereas others pref er you to bring an interpreter with
you. Most administration staf f do not speak English. You will be asked to open a medical history f ile on
your visit to the Doctors. T his is done with the nurse that works alongside your GP. It’s a good idea to bring
any previous doctors notes and prescriptions f rom the UK, especiallyif you have an on-going illness or
take regular medication.
If you need more inf ormation about registering with a doctor, then please visit our Facebook page at
Tenerife Forum and post your questions there or you can contact me directly at
translationsbylindsay@gmail.com or call +34 679539055