This topic is about understanding how a 72-year-old stoma patient living in Spain can access free prescription medicines and ostomy supplies. Here are some helpful points to consider:

- Spain provides universal healthcare, but to benefit from free or reduced-cost prescriptions and stoma supplies, you need to be registered with the Spanish Social Security system.
- To get a Spanish Social Security number, you usually need to be:
- Employed by a Spanish company, or
- Self-employed and making monthly "autónomo" contributions.
- Some people have managed to register without being currently employed by persistently requesting a number at their local Social Security office.

- If you are from a country with universal healthcare, your home country might cover your healthcare costs in Spain.
- For UK nationals aged 60 and over, the UK can pay for your healthcare in Spain if you present form E121 (now called S1).
- Those receiving UK Invalidity Benefit might also qualify using form E106 (now S1 for shorter-term coverage).

- Here are some useful resources shared by others:
- www.spainexpat.com/spain/information/healthcare_and_insurance_in_spain/
- spain.othercountries.com/pages/articles/index.asp?page=health
- ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-spain/pensions-benefits/healthcare/
- If the link fails, search for "Healthcare for UK expats in Spain Channel 4" for more information.