Spain’s Ministry of Health has unveiled the 2026-2030 Roadmap aimed at strengthening prevention, early diagnosis and healthcare responses to the sustained increase in sexually transmitted infections across the country. The strategy sets out a comprehensive approach designed to reduce the impact of these diseases and move towards their elimination as a public health issue by the end of the decade.

Epidemiological data for 2024 show that more than 93,000 cases of the main monitored sexually transmitted infections were reported, reaching the highest figures recorded in recent years. Chlamydia was the most common infection, followed by gonorrhoea, syphilis and lymphogranuloma venereum. Most diagnoses were recorded among young adults, with higher incidence rates among men, except in the case of chlamydia, where a significant proportion of cases affected women under the age of 25.

The new strategy includes measures focused on prevention and health education, including the funding of condoms for young people aged between 16 and 22 from 2027 onwards. It also promotes diagnostic innovation through the introduction of self-sampling kits, allowing easier access to testing outside conventional healthcare settings.

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Spain will fund condoms for young people and strengthen self-testing to combat sexually transmitted infections

Another priority area is the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance, particularly regarding gonorrhoea, in order to anticipate the emergence of strains that could undermine the effectiveness of current treatments. At the same time, diagnostic capacity in Primary Care will be strengthened and access to healthcare protection will be reinforced for the entire population.

The roadmap also incorporates new awareness initiatives and prevention campaigns designed to promote safe sexual practices through a positive and responsible approach. These actions seek to increase public awareness and encourage a collective response to a public health challenge affecting different segments of society.

Through this 2026-2030 plan, the Ministry of Health aims to consolidate a strategy based on prevention, innovation and accessibility, with the objective of reducing the incidence of sexually transmitted infections and improving public health in Spain.