An American content creator has gone viral for documenting the changes she has experienced after moving from the United States to Barcelona, Spain. On her well-known TikTok account Extensive Move Abroad, she has shared what has been one of the most striking aspects of her new life in Spain: Spanish pharmacies. The American TikToker has found the number of pharmacies on the streets notable, as well as their ability to sell beauty products.
Unlike in the United States, pharmacists in Spain can recommend medications for minor ailments, as long as they are not prescription-only. The Spanish healthcare system does not allow the dispensing of prescription medications without a prescription, which are usually subject to government subsidies. She is struck by the over-the-counter sale of medication and considers it one of the main cultural differences with the United States.
Virality of Spanish pharmacies on TikTok
Extensive Move Abroad is the name of the TikTok profile of a young American woman who decided to move to Barcelona and document it. Her content is based on sharing her experiences as an American moving to another country, specifically Spain, highlighting the differences she encounters and everything that catches her attention about the different cultures. Recently, one of her videos went viral with more than 14.2K views. In it, she talks about the differences between going to the pharmacy in the United States and doing so in Spain.
Cultural differences
First of all, she is struck by the number of pharmacies on the streets; according to her, “There is one on every street.” Another thing that caught her attention was the training pharmacists have regarding the beauty products sold there. In addition, their training allows them to recommend medications for minor ailments without the need to visit a health center or consult your doctor.
She defines it as “acting almost like doctors,” but the truth is that their training gives them the knowledge to carry out this practice. Sore throats, headaches, menstrual pain, or colds are the most common reasons people go to the pharmacy. It is also true that people go in search of a specific medication that can only be sold if they do not have a prescription.
Spanish Healthcare System
There are many, and increasingly more, medications that require a medical prescription and cannot be sold without one under any circumstances. The Ministry of Health in Spain operates under this regulation, and the payment for these medications is supported by public government subsidies. Some medications are fully subsidized, while others are only partially covered. This provides relief for those who need treatment for a chronic illness, for example, or when it comes to a one-time treatment that has a high economic cost.
Medical Tourism
According to the young American TikTok user, “If you are here on vacation and get sick, you can simply tell them your symptoms, and they will often give you medications that would require a prescription in the U.S.” This poses a real problem for the Spanish healthcare system, as many people engage in medical or health tourism, seeking free or more affordable medical care in Spain, which they could not afford in their country of origin.