What an Online GP in Spain Can and Cannot Treat
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)Last reviewed: 6 October 2026
A plain guide to what can be handled by video with a doctor licensed in Spain, what needs hands-on care, and when to call 112.
You don't have to figure this out alone
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is an independent, bilingual GP licensed in Spain. Book a 20-minute video consultation in English or Spanish for €50, with a private electronic prescription issued under Spanish law when clinically appropriate.
An online GP consultation is a real medical appointment held by video, but it is not the right route for every problem. This guide sets out what can be handled by video with a doctor licensed in Spain, what needs hands-on care, and when to skip both and call 112. It reflects how Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, an independent bilingual (English and Spanish) GP licensed in Spain, runs his own practice.
Quick Answer
| Your situation | Right route |
|---|---|
| Common infection or minor illness; you feel unwell but stable | Online GP |
| Repeat prescription for a stable, known condition | Online GP (issued only if clinically indicated) |
| Lab results or a specialist report you do not understand | Online GP |
| Medical certificate or report for work, study, travel or an insurer | Online GP for many documents; some can only be issued in person |
| Problem that needs a physical examination, imaging or a test today | In-person clinic or urgencias |
| Chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of stroke, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness | Call 112 |
What can an online GP in Spain treat?
Video works well when the diagnosis rests mainly on your history, what you describe and what can be seen on camera or in photos.
- Common infections: sore throat, sinusitis, urinary tract infections, conjunctivitis and minor skin infections.
- Stomach upsets: traveller's diarrhoea and gastroenteritis in an adult who is otherwise stable.
- Allergies and skin problems that can be assessed from your history and from photos or video.
- Stable long-term conditions: reviewing treatment and repeat prescriptions for conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, thyroid disease or high cholesterol.
- Travel health: advice before a trip and problems such as jet lag.
- Results and second opinions: explaining blood tests, reports from another doctor or records from another country. See how an online lab results review works.
- Weight and metabolic health: an assessment and an evidence-based plan.
What cannot be treated online?
- Emergencies. Chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of stroke, severe bleeding, a serious injury or any life-threatening symptom need 112 or the nearest emergency department. See emergency numbers in Spain.
- Problems that depend on examining you. Examples include severe or worsening abdominal pain, an injury that may need stitches or an X-ray, or an eye problem with loss of vision.
- Problems that need a test now, such as an ECG, imaging or urgent blood tests.
- Complex conditions that need a hospital team or several specialists working together.
Not sure which side you are on? This guide compares the options: when to go to the ER and when to use an online doctor in Spain.
Can an online doctor in Spain prescribe medication?
Yes, when it is clinically indicated after a genuine assessment. A doctor licensed in Spain can issue a private electronic prescription that pharmacies in Spain can dispense, and prescriptions issued in one EU country are recognised in the others, with some exceptions such as medicines under special control. A prescription is never guaranteed in advance, and antibiotics are prescribed only when they are needed. More detail: EU e-prescriptions and cross-border e-prescriptions explained.
Which documents can an online doctor in Spain issue?
- Usually possible after an assessment: medical reports, itemised invoices for insurers and many medical certificates for work, study or travel. Acceptance always depends on the institution asking for the document.
- Not possible online: the medical for a Spanish driving licence or firearms licence, which only authorised in-person centres can issue (see driving-licence medical checks in Spain), and the baja médica (statutory sick leave), which only the public health system or a mutua can issue. A private doctor can give you a justificante confirming the consultation.
What happens if online care is not enough?
You are told clearly, during the consultation, that you need to be seen in person. The doctor explains which service to use (your health centre, a private clinic, urgencias or 112), how soon, and what to tell them, and the written report from the consultation can be shown to the next clinician. A consultation that ends with "you need to be examined today" has done its job.
How this works in Dr. Pedro Yelamo's practice
- One named doctor: Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, physician licensed in Spain (Nº Colegiado 484814280).
- Video consultations in English or Spanish, for patients in Spain and elsewhere in Europe.
- Urgent Care consultation: 20 minutes, €50. Metabolic health consultation: 30 minutes, €70. No subscription.
- Appointments on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It is not a 24/7 service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an online consultation a proper medical consultation in Spain?
Yes. It is a consultation with a physician licensed in Spain, who has the same professional duties as in person. The difference is that the doctor cannot examine you physically, which is why some problems are redirected.
Can I book if I am a tourist without a Spanish health card?
Yes. It is private care, so you do not need a Spanish health card or to be registered at a health centre.
Need to speak to a doctor? Book a video consultation with an online doctor in Spain for urgent, non-emergency care. In an emergency, call 112.
Medical Citations & Sources
This content is written and reviewed by a licensed physician with reference to the following official health authorities.
