As waiting times for appointments, specialist consultations and diagnostic tests continue to rise across Spain, millions of people are increasingly turning to private healthcare in search of faster access to treatment.

The trend has fuelled record growth in Spain’s private health insurance sector, which now covers around 12.8 million people and generated almost €13.5billion in premiums last year.

Industry figures say the growth has transformed private healthcare into an increasingly important partner in easing pressure on the public system, particularly as demand continues to outstrip capacity in certain specialties.

According to insurers, some areas are facing particularly high levels of demand.

Health insurer Asisa says specialties currently under the greatest pressure include traumatology, mental health services, rehabilitation and diagnostic imaging.

‘There is very significant growth in demand linked to ageing and chronic conditions,’ the company told Redaccion Medica, highlighting cardiology and neurology as two specialties seeing a notable increase in patients.

The rise is being driven by several factors, including Spain’s ageing population, growing rates of chronic illness and increasing public awareness around preventative healthcare.

Other insurers report similar trends.

According to Adeslas, some of the most in-demand specialties currently include psychology, psychiatry, gynaecology, dermatology, ophthalmology, cardiology, allergy services, urology and traumatology.

Many healthcare providers say waiting lists worsened significantly following the Covid-19 pandemic and have remained under pressure ever since.

In response, private insurers are increasingly turning to technology as a way to improve efficiency without compromising patient care.

Telemedicine, online consultations, electronic prescriptions and digital patient management systems are now becoming central to the industry’s strategy.

Asisa told Redaccion Medica that it is expanding telemedicine services and strengthening collaboration between hospitals ‘to improve accessibility and speed up patient care’.

Adeslas believes remote healthcare will become even more common in the years ahead.

Meanwhile, DKV says it is accelerating the digital transformation of healthcare through a model focused on technology, data and personalised care.

The insurer revealed that customers carried out more than 214,000 digital consultations via video call or chat during 2025 alone.

The sector’s response is not limited to technology.

Private healthcare providers are also investing heavily in hospitals, clinics and staff recruitment to cope with growing demand.

Asisa said it has invested more than €335million since 2020, with much of the spending focused on expanding hospitals, opening new medical centres and strengthening professional teams.

Insurers also acknowledge that recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals will be critical in the years ahead as Spain faces growing healthcare demands and generational workforce changes.

The challenge, according to industry leaders, is finding ways to grow sustainably while maintaining quality care.

‘The key is combining growth with efficiency and sustainability,’ Asisa said, arguing that the future lies in a more preventative and personalised healthcare model.

Many insurers now believe technology will be the defining factor in that transformation.

As pressure on Spain’s public healthcare system continues and waiting lists remain a major concern for patients, private providers increasingly see themselves as part of the solution.