English-speaking support · International patient coordination
Managed international patient service · How it works

How International Patient Care Works in Málaga

One short form. A more prepared hospital arrival.

Costa Medical Services coordinates the patient information and the Hospital Quirónsalud Málaga administration pathway before the patient reaches urgent care.

Pre-alert hospitalI'm on my way
International patient access in Málaga

How do international patients access medical care in Málaga?

Costa Medical Services helps international patients choose the appropriate route depending on what they need: 24-hour hospital urgent care, a planned hospital specialist appointment, or an English-speaking online family-doctor consultation. Each route follows a different process, and the steps below explain what happens after you make your request.

24-hour urgent care

How the urgent-care arrival pathway works.

For patients travelling to the hospital’s 24-hour emergency department, the process is designed to prepare the administrative arrival before the patient reaches the hospital.

01

Share the essential arrival details

Full name, nationality, contact details, adult or minor status, optional insurance information, the medical concern, expected arrival time and where you are travelling from.

02

Automatic notification

The hospital administration is alerted to the situation and your expected arrival, helping speed up the administrative process once you arrive at the hospital.

03

Directions & arrival pass

After the notification is sent, you see the urgent-care entrance Google Maps pin and an English-Spanish mobile pass that can be shown at reception. The pass can also be downloaded or printed.

04

Prepared hospital arrival

Admissions can recognise the managed pathway and the form helps prepare the administrative arrival. It is a pre-alert, not a guaranteed appointment. The hospital assesses and processes every urgent patient according to clinical need.

Specialist appointments

How the specialist appointment pathway works.

Tell us which specialist you need and give the hospital international team as much flexibility as possible around your preferred appointment dates and times.

01

Send your appointment request

Complete the specialist request form with your name, contact information, the specialty you require and your preferred appointment days, dates and times.

02

Hospital team reviews the request

Your information is passed to the hospital international team, who review your preferences and look for suitable appointment options with the requested specialist.

03

You are offered appointment options

The international team manages the case and contacts you with available days and times that best match the preferences you provided.

04

Confirm and attend

Once you accept an appointment, you receive your appointment card together with the hospital address and arrival details. You then attend the hospital at the confirmed time.

Online family doctor

How the online consultation pathway works.

For medical problems that do not require hospital urgent care or a hospital specialist, you can book an online consultation with the Costa Medical Services international medical team.

01

Choose the online doctor service

Open the telemedicine service and start your booking with the Costa Medical Services international medical team.

02

Choose your day and time

Select the available day and time that works best for your consultation.

03

Speak with the doctor

Your consultation takes place by video call or telephone and the doctor assesses and manages your medical issue.

04

Receive an e-prescription if needed

If medication is clinically appropriate, an electronic prescription is sent to your email.

05

Collect from a pharmacy

Present the prescription barcode on your phone at a pharmacy in Spain to collect the prescribed medication.

Questions about the process

How international patient coordination works.

Short answers to the most common questions about hospital arrival, specialist requests, online consultations and insurance.

How do I access hospital care in Málaga as an international patient?

Choose the route that matches your needs. For urgent hospital care, use the Rapid Arrival pre-alert before travelling. For planned care, submit a specialist appointment request. If you need non-emergency general medical advice, you can use the online family-doctor service.

What happens after I send a hospital pre-alert?

The essential arrival information is sent into the hospital administration pathway. You are then shown the urgent-care entrance, directions and an English-Spanish Rapid Arrival Pass that you can show at reception.

Does the Rapid Arrival pre-alert mean I will be seen first?

No. The pre-alert prepares the administrative arrival but does not reserve a treatment time, guarantee priority or override clinical triage. Urgent patients are assessed and prioritised according to medical need.

How do I request a hospital specialist in Málaga?

Use the specialist request page to tell us the specialty required, the reason for the appointment and your preferred availability. The request can then be coordinated with the relevant hospital pathway according to availability.

What if I only need a general doctor rather than the hospital?

For non-emergency medical problems that do not require hospital urgent care or an in-person specialist, you can book an English-speaking online family-doctor consultation by telephone or video.

What if I have international or travel insurance?

Insurance cover and direct payment depend on the individual policy and insurer authorisation. You can add insurance information to the relevant request and read the full process on the travel insurance and private hospital care page.

Service information reviewed: 22 August 2026. Costa Medical Services coordinates international patients accessing Hospital Quirónsalud Málaga. It does not own or operate the hospital.