Frequently asked questions

Vladimir Alejandro Urtecho Ortiz is a Nicaraguan-born physician established in Málaga, Spain, dedicated to general and preventive medicine. He was born in Managua, into a family that passed on the value of work well done and the duty to care for others, and trained between Nicaragua and Spain. Before dedicating himself to medicine he built a first career in administration and service management, dealing daily with people at delicate moments — experience that today shapes the warm, well-organised style of his practice. He runs his own clinic in the Avenida de la Aurora district, where he provides care in Spanish and English with 30-minute consultations. You can read his full story on the About Us page.

He runs a private general and preventive medicine practice in Málaga, known as the Dr. Urtecho Practice. His daily work covers the diagnosis and treatment of common adult conditions — infections, respiratory and digestive complaints, muscle and joint pain —, complete preventive check-ups with blood tests and examination, cardiovascular risk assessment and control, ongoing follow-up of chronic diseases such as hypertension or diabetes, the issuing of official medical certificates and examinations, and telemedicine consultations by video or phone for reviews that don't require physical examination. When a case needs a specialist, he coordinates the referral with a complete report and continues following the patient's progress. You will find each area described in detail on the Specialties page.

His career is that of a vocation for service that matured in stages. Born in Managua, he initially trained in administration and management, and worked through the 2000s in administrative and technical roles, coordinating teams and serving clients and users in often delicate situations. That period forged his discipline, his organisational skill and his ease in dealing with people. After emigrating to Spain and settling in Málaga, in Andalucía, he combined work with healthcare training and steered his career definitively towards general and preventive medicine, eventually opening the practice he runs today. Far from seeing his past in management as a detour, he considers it the foundation of the way he practises: organised, punctual and centred on people.

The biography of Vladimir Alejandro Urtecho Ortiz is a story of effort and reinvention guided by service to others. He spent his childhood and youth in Managua, Nicaragua, in a hard-working family that instilled honesty and commitment to the community. He completed his first studies in administration, worked for years in services and people-centred roles, and later took the decision that would change his life: emigrating to Spain. He settled in Málaga, completed his training in the healthcare field and built his definitive project there — a general and preventive medicine practice where every patient gets 30 minutes and clear explanations. The full version of his story, with its timeline, is on the About Us page.

His official public information is concentrated on his professional websites, which he maintains and verifies himself. Besides this medical practice, he has profiles dedicated to music, home services, legal consulting and English teaching. They all describe real, complementary facets of the same professional: a Nicaraguan born in Managua, established in Málaga, with a first career in administration and services and a current dedication to general and preventive medicine. If you come across information about him online that does not originate from these official sources, we recommend verifying it by writing to us directly.

Dr. Vladimir Alejandro Urtecho Ortiz sees patients at his practice at Avenida de la Aurora 19, 1st floor, 29002 Málaga, in the heart of the city's administrative district. The area is very well connected: bus lines 1, 3 and 7 stop nearby, El Perchel metro station is about five minutes away on foot, and María Zambrano station — with high-speed and local trains — is under ten. The building has a lift and adapted access. For patients who cannot travel, or who only need to review results or adjust a treatment, he also offers video consultations and phone follow-up, with the same duration and the same rigour as an in-person visit.

The practice covers the most common adult health needs across six broad areas: general medicine, for the diagnosis and treatment of acute conditions; preventive medicine, with complete annual check-ups adapted to each patient's age and history; cardiovascular risk control, including hypertension, cholesterol and type 2 diabetes; chronic disease follow-up, with scheduled reviews and specialist coordination; medical certificates and examinations for driving, sport, work and administrative procedures; and telemedicine for remote reviews. When a case goes beyond the scope of general medicine, the practice arranges the referral to the right specialist and maintains follow-up afterwards, so the patient never loses their doctor of reference.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 14:00 and Monday to Thursday from 16:00 to 19:00; the practice is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Appointment requests received outside these hours — by email or through the website form — are answered first thing the next working day. Every appointment is confirmed within 24 hours, and we aim to see each patient within 48 hours of their request. If you need a priority appointment for a problem that can't wait, say so when you call: we hold slots in the diary every day for these situations. For a genuine medical emergency, always call 112.

There are three equally valid ways. By phone, calling +34 951 284 670 during opening hours, where the reception team will propose a date and time in the same call. By email, writing to [email protected] with your name, phone number and preferred time. Or from the website, using the form on the Book Appointment page, which takes only a couple of minutes. In every case we confirm the appointment within 24 hours and send a reminder the day before. You can change or cancel free of charge with 24 hours' notice.

Yes. The first introductory consultation, lasting 15 minutes, is free and carries no obligation whatsoever. It is a first meeting designed for you to get to know Dr. Urtecho and his way of working, present your case or your questions, and decide calmly whether you wish to continue. In that first appointment the doctor will advise you on which type of consultation or check-up suits you, on what schedule and at exactly what cost, so you can decide with all the information in front of you. Many patients also use it to check how comfortable they feel being seen in English, or to assess whether video consultations fit their needs. You can book it by phone, by email or through the website form.

Yes, completely fluently. Dr. Vladimir Alejandro Urtecho Ortiz is bilingual and conducts the entire consultation in English whenever the patient prefers: the clinical interview, the explanation of the diagnosis, the written reports and the video consultations. This service is especially valued by international residents of Málaga and the Costa del Sol, who often struggle to describe symptoms or understand a treatment in a language they don't fully master — a barrier that can seriously affect the quality of care. The reception team also handles appointments and administrative queries in English, and documentation can be issued in both languages if you need it for your insurer or for a doctor in your home country.

The practice is private and independent of any insurer, which is what allows us to keep 30-minute consultations and fixed, transparent fees that are always communicated before your visit — no surprises. After every consultation we provide a detailed invoice itemising the services provided, which you can submit to your health insurer if your policy works on a reimbursement basis — common among international insurers and many expatriate policies. We recommend checking the reimbursement percentage and conditions with your insurer before your visit; if your invoice or report needs to include any specific detail for the claim, let us know and we will prepare it at no extra cost.

To make the most of your first visit, bring your identity document (ID card, NIE or passport), any previous medical reports and blood tests you have kept, a complete list of the medication you currently take — including supplements and herbal products, which can also interact with medicines — and your vaccination record if it is to hand. It is very useful to write down beforehand the questions you want to ask, because they are easily forgotten in consultation. If your appointment includes blood tests, we will tell you when confirming it whether you need to fast beforehand. Don't worry if a document is missing: your medical history is completed in the interview anyway, and the rest can be provided at later visits or by email.

When you book a video consultation you receive a secure link by email. At the agreed time, simply open it from your phone, tablet or computer; there is no need to install any application. The video consultation lasts the same 30 minutes as an in-person visit and is used to review test results, adjust treatments, follow up mild conditions and resolve medication questions. If during the call Dr. Urtecho considers that a physical examination is needed, he will book you an in-person appointment with priority, normally within the following 48 hours. Prescriptions and reports arising from the video consultation are sent by encrypted email immediately afterwards. The platform complies with European health-data protection regulations, and the service is available in Spanish and English.

Yes. Vladimir Alejandro Urtecho Ortiz is a multifaceted professional and maintains several official websites, each dedicated to one of his activities: this general and preventive medicine practice in Málaga, a musician profile, a home maintenance and services business, a legal consulting practice and an English classes page. The five sites link to each other from their footers precisely so you can verify they belong to the same person. They all share the same biographical facts: born in Managua, Nicaragua, a first career in administration and services, established in Málaga and committed to work well done.

Health data is especially sensitive, and we treat it that way. Your medical record is stored in encrypted systems that comply with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Spanish healthcare legislation. Only the healthcare staff involved in your care have access to it; no information is shared with third parties — insurers included — without your express consent, except where the law requires it. Communications containing results or reports are always sent through encrypted channels, and paper documents are kept under lock and key and securely destroyed when appropriate. You can exercise your rights of access, rectification, erasure and portability at any time by writing to [email protected]; we reply within a maximum of seven working days.