The aim of this work was to analyse the use of health care services by immigrants in Spain. Using a nationally representative
health survey from 2006–2007 and negative binomial and hurdle models, it was found that there is no statistically significant
difference in the patterns of visits to general practitioners and hospital stays between migrants and natives in Spain. However,
immigrants have a lower access to specialists and visit emergency rooms with a higher frequency than nationals.
Keywords Health care - Immigration - Spain - Access - Equity
JEL classification H75 - F22
Previous versions of this paper were presented at the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
in Dublin (August 2007) and at the 15th Meeting on Public Economics in Salamanca (February 2008).