Healthcare Abroad expands European network with Malaga hospital partnership

Healthcare Abroad, a Ballymount-based healthcare coordination company, has announced a partnership with Vithas Xanit International Hospital in Malaga that expands access for Irish patients under the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive. The agreement will enable Irish patients to access treatment across a wide range of medical specialties at the private hospital, with capacity to treat up to 800 Irish patients per annum.

Echo.ie reported that Xanit International Hospital is part of the Vithas Healthcare Group and offers treatment across specialties including orthopaedics, general surgery, gynaecology, urology, diagnostics and other planned procedures commonly associated with extended waiting times in Ireland.

Under the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive, Irish residents are entitled to access planned medical treatment in other EU countries, with eligible costs reimbursed by the HSE.

Paul Byrne, chief operations officer at Healthcare Abroad, said: "This partnership with Xanit International Hospital marks a significant expansion of our European network and our ability to support Irish patients who are waiting too long for planned care. By working with high-quality, accredited hospitals like Xanit, we can offer patients access to a broad range of treatments in a timely and regulated way, while complementing ongoing efforts within Ireland's public health system."

The latest agreement builds on recent partnerships including arrangements with Professor Barry O'Reilly from Cork University Hospital to perform TVT sling surgery for Irish women experiencing stress urinary incontinence at Vithas Valencia, Spain, and with Dr Lucas Minig to provide specialist endometriosis care for Irish patients at Viamed Santa Elena Hospital in Madrid.

Earlier in 2025, Healthcare Abroad partnered with IM Clinic in Barcelona to provide medically indicated breast reduction surgery for Irish patients.

Access the complete details to understand how the cross-border directive supports Irish patient access to European healthcare capacity.