Gibraltar (GI)

A unique British Overseas Territory at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula: English-speaking, tax-efficient (no VAT, no CGT, no inheritance tax), with a Mediterranean climate, 300 days of sunshine, and the world-famous Rock of Gibraltar.

Capital: Gibraltar

Region: Europe

Language: English

Currency: GIP (£)

Cost of living: Expensive (index 78)

Emergency: 999

Healthcare in Gibraltar

Gibraltar operates a dual public-private healthcare system. The Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) provides NHS-equivalent public healthcare funded by social insurance contributions — employees and their registered dependants access GHA services free or at minimal cost. St Bernard's Hospital is the main public hospital with 24-hour A&E, surgical facilities, and specialist outpatient clinics. For complex procedures, patients are referred to UK specialist hospitals under the UK Patient Referral Programme. A private sector provides faster specialist access and the Spanish border being 2 minutes away enables access to Spanish private hospitals.

Public healthcare: Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA)

Eligibility:Employees registered for social insurance and their registered dependants. Self-employed persons contributing to social insurance. Category 2 residents and non-employed persons should confirm entitlement with GHA.

Monthly cost:Free for enrolled social insurance contributors. Employer deducts 10% employee social insurance contribution; employer pays 20%.

What's included:

GP consultations at the Primary Care Centre (PCC)
A&E and emergency treatment at St Bernard's Hospital
Elective surgery and in-patient procedures at St Bernard's Hospital
Specialist outpatient clinics (cardiology, orthopaedics, dermatology, gynaecology)
Maternity care, obstetrics, and postnatal services
Mental health services (CMHT and limited in-patient)
Pharmacy (prescriptions at subsidised cost £0–5/item)
Basic dental treatment at GHA Dental Unit
Community nursing and home care
Referrals to UK specialist hospitals for complex cases not available in Gibraltar

Not included (or co-pay required):

Cosmetic procedures
Private specialist consultations (unless referred via GHA)
Dental implants and orthodontics (GHA covers basic only)
Optical prescriptions and glasses (basic eye tests only)
Treatments obtainable privately for faster access

Co-payments:Prescriptions: £0–5 per item at GHA pharmacy. A&E and GP visits: free for registered patients. Dental: minimal charges for basic treatments.

How to enrol:Employer registers new employees for social insurance — GHA coverage follows automatically. Visit the Primary Care Centre (PCC), Hospital Hill, to register as a patient and obtain your GHA patient number. Dependants (spouse, children) can be added to the social insurance record.

Waiting period:No waiting period for emergency care. GP appointments: same-day to 2 weeks. Specialist outpatient: varies by specialty (weeks to months).

Private healthcare: Private healthcare (Gibraltar and cross-border Spain)

Who can use it:Available to all with private health insurance or self-pay. No residency restrictions.

When it makes sense:For faster specialist access (shorter waits), dental implants and orthodontics, optical care, cosmetic procedures, and access to Spanish specialist hospitals with international reputation. Private insurance is popular among financial services and iGaming professionals.

Monthly cost:£70–210/month (£800–2,500/year individual private health insurance). Employer-provided health insurance is common in financial services and gaming sectors.

Major providers:

Gibcare Private Clinic — Main Street, GibraltarPrimary Care Centre Private ClinicHospital San Agustín — La Línea de la Concepción, Spain (15 min drive)HC Marbella International Hospital — English-speaking staff, international insuranceHospital Quirónsalud Campo de Gibraltar — La LíneaAXA PPP Healthcare (insurance)Bupa International (insurance)Cigna Global (insurance)

Accessing care

GP system

GHA GP services are provided at the Primary Care Centre (PCC) on Hospital Hill. Register as a patient when you arrive. Appointments by phone or online portal. Same-day urgent appointments usually available. Walk-in service for minor illness. Private GPs also available — shorter waits, £60–120 per consultation.

Specialist referral

GHA referrals: your GP at the PCC refers you to a GHA specialist outpatient clinic at St Bernard's Hospital. Waiting times vary (weeks to months for non-urgent). Private route: contact specialists directly — no GP referral required for private consultations. Cross-border: Spanish private specialists in La Línea and Marbella offer shorter waits at competitive prices.

Emergency care

A&E at St Bernard's Hospital, Hospital Hill — open 24/7. Dial 999 for ambulance, fire, or police (999 replaced 190 as of March 2024). Free for all patients regardless of insurance status. Very fast ambulance response times (under 5 minutes in most of Gibraltar).

Out of hours

St Bernard's A&E is always open. For non-emergency out-of-hours, call GHA primary care triage line. Spanish emergency services (112) accessible across the border. Samaritans UK (116 123) accessible 24/7.

Prescriptions

GHA prescriptions: dispensed at GHA pharmacy at the PCC for £0–5 per item. Private prescriptions: dispensed at any Gibraltar pharmacy at full private cost. Most medications available OTC in Gibraltar without prescription that would require prescription in the UK. No VAT on medications in Gibraltar.

Dental

GHA Dental Unit at the PCC: free or minimal charge for basic dental treatments (check-ups, fillings, extractions) for enrolled residents. Waiting times for routine dental appointments can be several weeks. Private dental clinics on Main Street offer short-wait appointments (£80–200 per treatment). Many residents use dental clinics in La Línea (Spain) — significantly cheaper, high quality, no wait.

Mental health

GHA Community Mental Health Team (CMHT): outpatient mental health support, community psychiatric nursing. Referral via GHA GP. Waiting times 4–12 weeks for non-urgent. Crisis: A&E or 190 ambulance. Samaritans 116 123 (free, 24/7). Private psychologists and counsellors operate in Gibraltar — English-language therapy widely available.

Maternity

GHA Maternity Unit at St Bernard's Hospital. Antenatal care via GHA midwifery team — book early. Births at St Bernard's (normal deliveries and C-sections). Postnatal community midwifery. High-risk pregnancies may be referred to UK (Fetal Medicine Unit referrals). Private maternity check-ups available at private clinics.

Expat-specific advice

First steps on arrival:

Register with GHA at the Primary Care Centre (PCC) — bring your employment contract and social insurance registration
Obtain your GHA patient number and register as a patient at the PCC
Register your GP (doctor) at the PCC for non-emergency care
Consider supplementary private health insurance for faster specialist access
Get private dental insurance or budget for dental costs separately — GHA dental has long waits
Save 999 (all emergencies — ambulance, fire, police) and St Bernard's A&E number into your phone

Finding English-speaking doctors:All GHA doctors and staff communicate in English — Gibraltar's official language is English. All medical records, prescriptions, and communications are in English. Spanish-speaking doctors also available given Gibraltar's bilingual community.

International insurance:Many expats arriving on employer relocation packages arrive with international health insurance (Cigna, Bupa International, AXA). These are accepted at Spanish private hospitals. Coordinate with GHA registration — GHA entitlement is separate from private insurance.

Emergency card info:GHA provides a Medical Alert Card for patients with serious conditions. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) does NOT apply in Gibraltar (Gibraltar is not in the EU). However, Gibraltar has reciprocal health arrangements with the UK via the UK Patient Referral Programme.

EHIC notes:EHIC/GHIC does NOT cover treatment in Gibraltar (Gibraltar is not in the EU/EEA). UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) does not apply in Gibraltar. When travelling to Spain from Gibraltar, a GHIC/EHIC provides emergency cover in Spain — obtain one from NHSBSA before travel.

Pharmacies (Chemist / Pharmacy)

Hours:Typically 9am–7pm Mon–Sat; duty pharmacy rota for evenings/Sundays (rota posted in pharmacy windows and on GHA website)

After-hours / emergency:A rotating duty pharmacy operates for late-night and Sunday cover. Check the rota posted in any pharmacy window or the GHA website. In a medical emergency, go to St Bernard's A&E.

Prescription rules:GHA prescriptions dispensed at GHA pharmacy (PCC) for £0–5 per item. Private prescriptions dispensed at any Gibraltar pharmacy at full cost. No VAT on medicines in Gibraltar — OTC medications are cheaper than in the UK.

Available over-the-counter:

Paracetamol and ibuprofen (pain and fever)
Antihistamines (hay fever, allergies)
Sunscreen (UV protection — Gibraltar has very high summer UV)
Vitamins and supplements
Cough and cold remedies
Rehydration sachets
Antacids and digestive remedies

Typical costs

GP visit (with insurance)	£0–20 copay (varies by insurer)
GP visit (private pay)	£60–120 (private GP)
Specialist visit	£120–250 (private); free via GHA referral
Emergency visit	Free at St Bernard's A&E
MRI scan	£250–500 (private in Gibraltar or La Línea)
Prescription average	£0–5 per item (GHA); full private cost varies
Dental check-up	£0–15 (GHA basic); £80–150 (private)
Baby delivery	GHA covers maternity at St Bernard's Hospital for registered residents; private maternity check-ups additional

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