Confirmed. Visual health will be part of the portfolio of basic services of the health system from 2025. That is, glasses and contact lenses will be financed, something to which the Ministry of Health had committed, as well as health oral, which is already being financed.
Minister Mónica García has indicated this, recalling that this is one of the commitments that the PSOE had acquired with Sumar in the government pact.
But will it be for everyone? No. Although García has not been very explicit, the Government agreement states that the financing of these glasses and contact lenses will be allocated to those under 18 years of age with fewer resources.
The minister, who made these statements after inaugurating the First Public Health Forum: Future Health, organized by the Foundation for Health Research (Fuinsa), justifies this decision in that the purchase of glasses and contact lenses cannot be “a disruptive element for those families who cannot afford it.”
The head of Health insists that this is an egalitarian measure so that glasses and contact lenses are accessible to vulnerable people and families for whom this purchase may represent an accessory expense, “thus seeing their ability to have better visual health diminished.”
“I think this is something we agree on socially and politically. It cannot be that the visual or oral health system is not included in the National Health System and we are going to work firmly to make it a reality in 2025,” she added.
This inclusion in the basic portfolio of services is added to that of oral health. According to the deadline set, before December 31, 2022, minors between 6 and 14 years old and pregnant women were included. Before June 30, 2023, to people with disabilities. And last year, to children from 0 to 5 years old and people diagnosed with oncological processes of the cervicofacial territory.
What oral treatments are excluded in primary care? Permanent fillings and pulp treatments in the primary dentition, pulp treatments in the permanent dentition, except in the case of trauma injuries in the incisor and canine group and orthodontic treatments.
Also extractions of healthy teeth for exclusively orthodontic indications and treatments with exclusively aesthetic purposes, among others.
