The Spanish government has announced a new financial support package to help families across the country, including here in the Canary Islands, cover the cost of glasses and contact lenses for children under the age of 16.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez revealed on Monday that a Royal Decree has been approved, introducing a €100 subsidy for vision care products such as glasses and contact lenses, starting from the next academic year.
The aim is to help an estimated 721,000 children across Spain who need vision correction, but whose families may struggle to afford it.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Health Minister Mónica García, Sánchez described the policy as a step forward in strengthening Spain’s National Health System by “guaranteeing access to visual health for children from all backgrounds.”
The government will allocate €48 million to the General Council of Colleges of Opticians-Optometrists, enabling optical centres to deduct €100 from the cost of glasses or contact lenses prescribed for children. The scheme will help treat common conditions such as myopia, hypermetropia, and astigmatism.
“This is a measure of social justice,” Sánchez said. “Up to 30% of school dropouts are linked to undiagnosed or untreated vision problems. By helping families access vision correction, we’re investing in our children’s education and future.”
He added that the aid will be rolled out uniformly across Spain, regardless of a family’s postcode or income, ensuring equal access nationwide.
Health Minister Mónica García echoed the Prime Minister’s remarks, calling the initiative “a right, not a luxury,” and promising a streamlined application process without unnecessary red tape. “No child should have to squint at the blackboard or wear outdated glasses because their family can’t afford new ones,” she said.
