In Switzerland I get an MRI within 48 hours if my doctor orders it.
Mind you, healthcare is also very expensive comparatively but the quality is very high and coverage is extensive.
And Why can't you just walk in to a clinic to get x-rays and tests done like it is in done elsewhere. Have clinics compete for price.
The other part no one mentions is the utter cheating that goes on in statistics to show that the health care system is doing good. Things like counting the patients who were admitted but not counting the rest 90% who died just waiting for months.
Because false negatives are a massive problem. People get biopsies or treatments for things that never needed it, which is ultimately worse for their health (on average) than catching the rare time it is something.
This also reduces burden on doctors. If the only thing your doctor does is prescribe antibiotics and orders scans. Why not do it yourself and get treated early.
It's just not paid for by your health insurance.
And no, you are wrong, overtreatment is a huge problem.
I hope you are aware that these also exist in many EU countries, private clinics aren't banned because of public healthcare, you can purchase private health insurance in many countries, I can't say all because I don't know the intricacies of every country's system since this is a national policy and each member-state is free to run their own systems.
Here in Sweden I have private health insurance through my employer, I cannot go directly to a clinic for imaging, etc. since it needs a referral from a doctor but it's quite simple and when I needed I had many choices of private clinics to do a MRI. If you don't have insurance you can definitely pay out of your own pocket, both for a private doctor as for exams.
https://www.newyorker.com/science/annals-of-medicine/will-a-...
Now, is there here anybody from Spain to comment on their system? I've heard good stuff about it.