Madrid Health System Slashes Waiting Times in Early 2026

The Community of Madrid reported a significant reduction in waiting lists during the first half of 2026 for surgeries, first‑consultation appointments and diagnostic tests. The average wait for diagnostic tests fell to 51.23 days, a 9.2% drop from January and 15.9% lower than June 2025. Surgical wait times fell to 48.48 days, 7% less than the 52.45 days recorded in January. First‑consultation delays also fell to 59.59 days, a 14.2% reduction from the 69.45 days at the start of the year. These figures remain well below the national average of 121 days.

The improvements were achieved despite a doctors’ strike over a national health statute, which had postponed more than 12,200 surgeries and suspended over 248,300 consultations since December. Authorities credit the progress to advanced technology, professional staff and strong coordination. Madrid’s hospitals also featured prominently in international rankings, with seven public facilities listed among the 250 best worldwide in Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2026 and six of the ten top hospitals in Spain.