The Spanish public health insurance system is called Insalud (Instituto Nacional de Gestion Sanitaria). It is based on compulsory contributions from Spanish employees.
Spanish Social Security doctors are salaried employees, employed by the Instituto Nacional de Gestion Sanitaria. The patient, therefore, does not pay the doctor directly, thus ensuring transparent and homogeneous pricing.
The Spanish Social Security assigns and taxes treating doctors to patients, based mainly on geographical proximity.
It is the attending physicians who redirect their patients to specialists. They are therefore the main relays to mental health establishments and specialists in Spain.