Bilbao has a vast health infrastructure to respond to its population's sanitary needs through the Basque Health Service -Osakidetza- or the privately-run health centres. .

All visitors to Spain are strongly advised to obtain a form confirming that their country of origin has adequate reciprocal health arrangements with the Spanish healthcare systems (E-128 or European Health Card for EU countries plus Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland) or to take out private medical insurance. The E-128, European Health Card, entitles its holders to be assigned a general practitioner and it covers any urgent medical treatment at public hospitals.