( Each year dozens of Norwegians flock to...)Norwegians Take in the Sun in Spain on Doctors' Orders,Health

Each year dozens of Norwegians flock to the coastal Spanish town of Altea to get Oslo-funded treatment at a rehabilitation centre for problems ranging from rheumatism to fractured bones.

"In Norway it is cold almost all year and it rains often. You can understand why they are better off here," the tanned head of the centre, Torild Thorvaldsen, told AFP under bright sunshine.

The rehabilitation centre was set up and is run by three Norwegian towns -- Baerum, Stavanger and Oslo -- to treat mostly retirees in the softer Mediterranean climate for periods of up to a maximum of 12 weeks.

It can accommodate a maximum of 38 people at a time in small apartments or studios, and they are allowed to receive visitors during their stay.

Except for a daily supplement of 15 euros (20 US dollars), the entire cost of their stay is covered by oil-rich Norway's well-developed social security net.

This is a rare exception to a growing health tourism that officials say is putting a strain on facilities as residents from other EU states -- seeking to circumvent long waits or higher costs at home -- come to Spain knowing they are entitled to benefit from the country's free healthcare system.

Except for the sun, nothing at the rehabilitation centre would lead you to think you were in Spain. The medical staff is Scandinavian as are the cooks while signs are all in Norwegian.

Altea, a whitewashed fishing village of some 21,000 people, was selected as the location for the centre because of its proximity to the town of Alfaz del Pi, which is home one of the biggest concentration of Norwegian residents abroad.

More than half of Alfaz's roughly 18,500 residents are foreigners, including some 5,000 Norwegians. The town has two Norwegian schools, a Protestant church and even a branch of the Norwegian social security office.

It is located on Spain's extensive Mediterranean coast w
'"/>




Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Ranbaxy Acquires Glaxosmithklines Generic Unit in Spain
2. Effective Strategy Against Bird flu-Spainish Flu Vaccine Raises Hopes
3. Spain Launches Movement Against Skinny Fashion Models
4. Laser Driven Stem Cell Surgery in Spain
5. Doctors decisions are affected by fear of lawsuits- says a study
6. Doctors Response To Patients Religious Beliefs Can Vary
7. Doctors Bid to End Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace
8. Supreme Court Notice to Centre, MCI on Doctors Strike
9. BMA Criticises Government Bid to Claw Back Doctors Pay
10. Court Orders Private Hospitals To Provide Free Treatment For The Poor
11. Supreme Court Orders Striking Medicos To Call Off Agitation Immediate