A friend of mine recently received the news that she will need to undergo tympanoplasty—a procedure to repair a perforated eardrum—in the coming months. However, the exact date depends entirely on how long the waiting list is. And that uncertainty speaks volumes about the current state of public healthcare in Spain.

Tympanoplasty is not a minor operation. Surgeons carefully reconstruct the eardrum using tissue grafts, often taken from behind the ear, to restore hearing and prevent recurrent infections. Recovery can take several weeks, and although the results are usually positive, the process requires patience and constant monitoring.

Spain's public healthcare system, the Sistema Nacional de Salud, is considered one of the best in the world in terms of coverage and quality. However, it is seriously overburdened. Waiting lists for non-urgent surgeries have grown considerably, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic created a huge backlog of postponed procedures.

For patients like my friend, this means living with discomfort and uncertainty for months, waiting for surgery that could truly transform their quality of life. Universal healthcare is a remarkable achievement, but its sustainability and efficiency remain pressing issues worth discussing.

Key vocabulary with example sentences

  • Perforated (adj.) — having a hole or tear
    "The doctor confirmed she had a perforated eardrum after the infection."
  • Graft (n.) — tissue taken from one part of the body to repair another
    "The surgeon used a small skin graft to reconstruct the damaged area."
  • Recurring (adj.) — happening repeatedly over time
    "She suffered from recurring ear infections throughout her childhood."
  • Overstretched (adj.) — under too much pressure due to limited resources
    "The public health system became overstretched during the pandemic."
  • Backlog (n.) — a buildup of work or cases that haven't been dealt with yet
    "There is a significant backlog of surgeries that were postponed last year."
  • Waiting list (n.) — a list of people waiting for a service or treatment
    "My friend was placed on a waiting list and could wait up to six months."