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The virtual health card will be issued in all autonomous communities and will identify its holder, just like the classic card, in any health center or pharmacy. In addition, it will facilitate the execution of procedures and speed up access to services.
Virtual Health Card
Citizens who have accredited the right to public health care will have a health card in physical support, in virtual support or in both. They will be valid in all health centers and services of the National Health System and in any pharmacy office in Spain. The autonomous communities have 18 months to adapt the current ones.
On September 17, 2024, the Council of Ministers approved an update of the rule that regulates the Individual Health Card (TSI) in the National Health System to adapt it to technological advances and facilitate people’s access to health services, especially when they travel outside their autonomous community, in emergency situations or loss of the physical card.
What is the Individual Health Card?
The Individual Health Card is the official document that identifies each citizen when accessing health benefits and using the services of the National Health System. In addition, it allows its holder to purchase the medicines prescribed by his doctors in any pharmacy and reflects the economic contribution he has to pay depending on his active or pensioner status and his income level.
What’s new in the health card: virtual and more accessible
The new regulations update the conditions for issuing health cards:
The health administrations may issue the document only in physical support or in physical support and in virtual support. When the individual health card is issued on both media, the virtual one may replace the physical one, provided that the holder expresses his agreement.
It will be more accessible: The accessibility of the card to people with disabilities is guaranteed. To this end, the lower right corner of all cards in physical support will include the braille characters of the initials of the individual health card for people with visual impairments. The virtual cards will comply with the provisions on the accessibility of websites and applications for mobile devices in the public sector.
The magnetic strips of the physical cards will be adapted to new specifications. In addition, they may incorporate a chip that will be adapted to the data on the magnetic stripe.
Virtual cards will include a QR code with the same standardized data as the magnetic stripe of the physical card to ensure its reading throughout the national territory.
When will the cards be available?
Health authorities and agents involved in the provision of health care will have a period of 18 months, from September 18, 2024, to adapt the cards to the new legal obligations and requirements.
What data does the Individual Health Card collect?
In order to guarantee interoperability in the National Health System, all health cards will incorporate common basic data on the front of the physical card and in the image of the digital card:
Name and surname of the cardholder
Unique personal identification code of the National Health System (CIP-SNS)
Personal identification code assigned by the health administration issuing the card (CIP-AUT)
Identification code of the health administration issuing the card (CITE)
Institutional identity of the autonomous community or card issuing entity
The labels of “National Health System of Spain” and “Health Card”
The issuing health administrations may incorporate other data into the cards such as the ID of their holder or, in the case of foreigners, their identity number; the Social Security number; the expiration date for certain groups; the emergency telephone number, or a photograph of the holder.
The Ministry of Health is responsible for articulating the exchange of information between communities and interoperability between health cards to ensure that all users can be attended to and can purchase their medicines anywhere in Spain.
Who issues the health card and where is it valid?
The autonomous health administrations and the National Institute of Health Management (INGESA) issue a card to people residing in their field of activity who have the right to public health care accredited.
The card is valid throughout the National Health System and will allow access to the health centers and services of the system.
Can I use the Individual Health Card abroad?
No. If you travel to any country in the European Union you will have to apply for the European Health Insurance Card. If you go outside the Union, check the countries with which Spain has signed a bilateral collaboration agreement on Social Security.
Translation of the information from the Spanish government.
