La Rioja grants 222,000 euros to maintain Primary Care clinics

The Department of Health and Social Policies of the Government of La Rioja has resolved the 2026 call for grants to local entities for maintenance expenses of Primary Care clinics, for a total amount of 222,000 euros. The decision is formalized in Resolution 47/2026, dated September 25, published in the Official Gazette of La Rioja number 189, dated October 1, 2026, within section III of other provisions and acts (official reference 202609290124692). The text bears the signature of the counselor María Martín Díez de Baldeón.

The call derives from the regulatory bases approved by Order SPS/19/2026, dated April 29, published in the Official Gazette of La Rioja number 81, dated April 30, 2026, and from the call issued via Resolution 31/2026, dated May 7, whose extract appeared in the Official Gazette of La Rioja number 87, dated May 11. During the submission period, 161 applications were received for an equal number of clinics, which were reviewed and, where applicable, corrected by the staff of the Health Planning, Contracting, and Personnel Service.

The Grant Valuation Commission met on August 31, 2026, to assess and prioritize the requests according to the criteria in force, and the Delegated Comptroller’s Office issued a favorable audit report on September 24, 2026.

Distribution by Budget Items

The amount is distributed between two budget applications:

• Maintenance of city councils, item 06.01.3121.461.00: 221,327.51 euros.
• Maintenance of other local entities, item 06.01.3121.463.00: 672.49 euros.

The resolution also annuls the amount authorized in accounting document “A/” number 06.9852, for 1,327.51 euros in item 06.01.3121.463.00, and transfers it to complementary document “A” number 9853 charged to item 06.01.3121.461.00, as there is a link between both and it is provided for as such in the call resolution.

Extended Justification Deadlines

Payment will be made once the beneficiary entity justifies an expenditure equal to or greater than the granted subsidy, providing the documentation provided for in Article 14 of Order SPS/19/2026. The resolution extends the initially set deadlines, as it became unfeasible to meet them after the closing of the appeals period on September 18:

• October 31, 2026, for local and auxiliary primary care clinics.
• November 30, 2026, for clinics that function as Continuous Care Points (PAC).

Distribution Criteria and Main Beneficiaries

The granting criteria weigh the surface area of the clinic (60%) and the number of registered residents according to the latest INE update (40%); for clinics serving as Continuous Care Points, an additional section is added with surface area at 50%, population up to 30%, and operating hours at 20%.

Among the amounts in the annex, the following stand out:

• Villamediana de Iregua City Council: 18,145.36 euros.
• Rincón de Soto City Council: 12,254.40 euros.
• Aldeanueva de Ebro City Council: 10,966.82 euros.
• Ezcaray City Council: 10,163.22 euros.
• Autol City Council: 8,059.77 euros.
• Pradejón City Council: 7,056.98 euros.
• Logroño City Council: five subsidized clinics (El Cortijo, La Estrella, Los Lirios, Varea, and Yague).
• Minor Local Entity of Quintanar de Rioja: 268.20 euros; Minor Local Entity of Villaseca de Rioja: 404.29 euros.

The resolution concludes the administrative process, and a contentious-administrative appeal may be filed against it before the Contentious-Administrative Chamber of the High Court of Justice of La Rioja within two months, or an optional appeal for reversal within one month.

The distribution supports the daily operation of the rural clinic network, whose expenses for water, electricity, heating, cleaning, medical waste disposal, and preventive maintenance are borne by the municipalities. The extension of the justification deadlines provides leeway for the Riojan city councils to document expenses and collect grants that, in small municipalities, are decisive for keeping their clinics open.

Source: Official Gazette of La Rioja, no. 189, of October 1, 2026, section III, pp. 16542-16548 (official reference: 202609290124692).