Pedro Sánchez unveils the second phase of the "VEO Plan", bringing the total investment to 73 million euros

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has unveiled the second phase of the VEO Plan to tackle visual impairment affecting more than 700,000 children and teenagers in our country; this phase will receive an additional 23 million, bringing the programme's total investment to 73 million euros.

The subsidy will remain up to 100 euros per child per year towards the cost of spectacles or contact lenses, and will be available until 31 December 2026. As the president explained, the aim is to ensure that "no child in our country has to grow up with poor eyesight because their family cannot afford to correct their vision problem".

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, greets those attending the presentation of the second phase of the "VEO Plan" | Pool Moncloa/Sandra Armada

In fact, he recalled, it is estimated that one in three children with poor academic results may have an undiagnosed vision problem that hinders their learning. "That is why, a year ago, we launched the VEO Plan; and the results have exceeded our expectations: Almost 500,000 children and young people have already benefited from this support".

At this event, held at the Ministry of Health, Pedro Sánchez expressed his gratitude to the Association of Opticians and Optometrists for all their support, as well as to the nearly 8,000 establishments participating in the Scheme (almost 75 per cent) across the country, and the more than 13,600 professionals involved. "Without them, the VEO Plan would not be possible", he emphasised.

We have made progress in strengthening the welfare state

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, closes the presentation ceremony for the expansion of the "VEO Plan" | Pool Moncloa/Sandra Armada

The President of the Government of Spain pointed out that this initiative is not a one-off or isolated measure, but forms part of something much bigger: the health of all Spaniards. In this regard, he explained that "when we came to power in 2018, we set ourselves a very clear objective: to strengthen our welfare state and continue to expand the rights it guarantees".

"To achieve this," he continued, "we have made progress in three areas. Firstly, by providing it with more financial resources. Over the past eight years, we have increased investment in the welfare state and social benefits by 145 billion euros; because the main problem we face in our country is inequality".

Secondly, "expanding rights and benefits", such as the introduction of new neonatal screening programmes, extending the age ranges for early cancer detection programmes, and implementing measures such as this VEO Plan. And "thirdly, restoring rights that should never have been lost in the first place, such as universal healthcare, which we reinstated after the previous government had abolished it".

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, attends together with the Minister for Health, Mónica García, the presentation of the second phase of the "VEO Plan" | Pool Moncloa/Sandra Armada

On this point, Pedro Sánchez was unequivocal in stating that "we will not allow that system to be weakened" or "dismantled". And "We will not accept that what belongs to all Spanish citizens ends up depending on each individual's pocket, and ends up lining the pockets of just a few And even less so when we're talking about public health".

Mónica García

The Minister for Health, Mónica García, explains the new features of the second phase of the "VEO Plan" | Pool Moncloa/Sandra Armada

For her part, the Minister for Health, Mónica García, also emphasised that the fundamental premise on which the VEO Plan was founded is that "no child in our country should have poorer eyesight simply because of their family's financial circumstances", because "good eyesight is part of good health, learning, independence, self-esteem and the ability to function with the same tools and the same opportunities as everyone else".

"Today we can say that it is a success" and that "it is a measure that works", said the minister, because "the scheme has reached the whole country" and "the response has exceeded all our expectations". "I think this is a very good way of understanding what the public health service is for", because "there are already hundreds of thousands of families who know that when their children need glasses, the public health service is there for them too", she concluded.

Non official translation