No organisation today can afford to neglect its duty of care. To reduce health risks to individuals, and business and reputational risks to their employers, planning, preparation and up-to-date information are vital.As part of their series on global risk in popular expatriate destinations, global medical assistance provider CEGA and security specialist Solace Global discuss the risk rating in Spain.

Spain

OVERALL RISK RATING: LOWSpain's highest-profile domestic terrorist group, ETA, declared a unilateral ceasefire in September 2010 and a “definitive cessation of its armed activity” in October 2011. But extremist groups such as AQIM and ISIS still pose a general threat. In 2015, Spanish police disrupted more than 20 terror cells suspected of recruiting individuals to travel to Syria and Iraq. Some were planning attacks on Europe.

Crime rate

Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, is common in tourist areas and perpetrators are often highly skilled; working in gangs to distract victims’ attention.The Spanish mainland and islands are no strangers to forest fires, while pollution is a growing problem in Madrid.

Medical facilities

Medical care is excellent, especially in larger cities. Provision outside cities, particularly in remote areas, is more limited and critical patients often need to be transferred to access better care.

Vaccinations 

Altitude sickness is common above 2,500 metres and recommended vaccinations include tetanus and rabies.For related news and features, visit our Health & Wellness section.Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory  Get access to our free Global Mobility Toolkit