Over the past three years, Spain’s capital region has shown impressive achievements in surgery. In 2024, clinics in Madrid performed 515,275 operations—a 5% increase compared to the previous year. Outpatient procedures saw especially notable growth, up by nearly 7%. Hospital-based surgeries also increased, though at a slightly lower rate. This surge is attributed not only to demographic changes, but also to a general rise in demand for medical care.
Despite a 25% rise in the number of patients waiting for surgery compared to 2022, average wait times in Madrid have dropped to 49 days. In contrast, the countrywide average exceeds 110 days. This indicates that local hospitals are managing the heavy patient flow without compromising service quality or extending wait times.
It’s particularly noteworthy that just 0.3% of patients in Madrid have been waiting for surgery for more than six months, compared to over 22% nationwide. This is the lowest level ever recorded in the region. Elsewhere, the situation is less optimistic: in Andalucía, Extremadura, and Cataluña, average wait times are higher than the national average, and the number of people in line continues to grow.
Leading Hospitals and New Approaches
Major medical centers in Madrid, such as La Paz, 12 de Octubre, Gregorio Marañón, and Fundación Jiménez Díaz, have made a significant contribution to the region’s overall success. Over the past three years, they have increased the number of surgeries by 12–16%, now accounting for more than half of all surgical procedures in the region. Fundación Jiménez Díaz stands out in particular, with an average waiting time for surgery in 2024 of less than three weeks—a record low not only for Madrid but for the entire country.
Hospitals with so-called mixed management models also played a key role: Hospital General de Villalba, Rey Juan Carlos, Infanta Elena, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, and Torrejón. In the past three years, they have increased the number of surgeries by 21%. Their efforts have significantly improved access to surgical care and helped reduce the burden on other medical facilities.
A contrast with the rest of Spain
While Madrid reports record-low waiting times, the rest of the country continues to face challenges. The total number of patients awaiting surgery has risen from 767,000 to 846,000 over two years. The average waiting time nationwide has decreased by only two days, and in some regions, it has even gone up. This highlights the disparity in efficiency between autonomous communities and sets Madrid as an example for other regions.
Thus, the capital region not only remains the leader in providing prompt surgical care, but also sets new standards for the country’s entire healthcare system. Amid increasing demand and a rising number of patients, Madrid’s hospitals demonstrate that effective organization and innovative approaches can significantly improve both the accessibility and quality of medical services.
