SPAIN is rolling out free condoms for 16-22 year olds in pharmacies across the country in a bid to make protection the norm. 

Spain’s Director of Public Health, Pedro Gullon, announced that by 2027, all youngsters will have access to free condoms with their local pharmacy providing them with a box every month.

Gullon says that the Ministry of Health will buy condoms in bulk and then distribute them throughout the country’s network of 22,000 pharmacies. 

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The pharmacy initiative forms part of Spain’s 2026-2030 STI Roadmap, introduced to tackle a major spike in STIs across the country and funded by a €9 million investment from the Ministry of Health. 

In 2024, Spain recorded more than 93,000 STI cases – representing the highest figure in over a decade. 

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By rolling out free condoms for youngsters, Gullon hopes to make them a ‘right’ and ‘an everyday part of life’ while also preventing STIs. 

In addition to the pharmacy scheme, the Ministry of Health has authorised Spain’s first at-home STI test as part of the STI Roadmap. 

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