In Spain, many families face the challenge of bearing the costs of treating children with growth hormone deficiency themselves. This rare condition requires expensive injections, which can cost up to 1000 euros per month. When the public healthcare system denies funding, many families have no choice but to turn to private clinics.
Spain Press Editorial Team
Rejection of Funding Despite Medical Necessity
One example illustrates how difficult the situation is for affected families: A mother has been paying around 800 euros per month for her daughter’s necessary treatment for two and a half years, despite her daughter being officially diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. Her daughter, who had stagnated in her development, was diagnosed after several medical tests, including a dangerous hypoglycaemic episode. However, despite the doctor’s recommendation and the confirmation of the diagnosis by specialists, the public healthcare system rejected funding for the treatment. The reason: her daughter did not meet one of the established “criteria” set by the relevant committee.
Criticism of Adherence to Rigid Criteria
Access to treatment in Spain is overseen by a special growth hormone committee, which reviews specific criteria for approving applications for public healthcare funding. These criteria include, among other factors, a significantly low height, a reduced growth rate, and proven abnormalities in growth hormone stimulation tests.
Despite these rules, there are frequent disagreements between doctors, who deem the treatment necessary, and committee members, who insist on adhering to the established criteria. This leads to repeated rejections of applications, even though the diagnosis is clear and the treatment is essential.
The Impact on Affected Children and Society
The deficiency of growth hormones can have serious long-term effects on affected children, both physically and psychologically. Without treatment, these children may reach a significantly lower height, which can lead to social and psychological issues. Studies have shown that children with growth problems are more likely to be victims of bullying at school, further hindering their development.
The duration of the growth hormone treatment plan depends on the timing of the diagnosis. If the treatment is started early, it can last until the age of 16. However, with a later diagnosis, the treatment may be shorter, as the body has less growth potential at a certain age.
Urgent Need for Action in the Healthcare System
This situation highlights the urgent need for the healthcare system to become more flexible and ensure that all families, regardless of their financial situation, have access to life-saving treatments. The issue of parents being forced to turn to private treatments because public funding is denied exposes existing gaps in the Spanish healthcare system. It is to be hoped that the growing number of lawsuits and legal disputes will exert the necessary pressure on the authorities to make the funding of such treatments easier, ensuring that all children receive the medical care they urgently need.
