Health grants 160,000 euros to city councils for prevention programs

The Department of Health of the Government of Cantabria has resolved to grant subsidies for a total amount of 159,999.99 euros to 27 city councils and associations of municipalities for the development of promotion, prevention, intervention, and harm reduction projects in public health during the year 2026. The decision, signed on August 12, 2026, by the Minister of Health, César Pascual Fernández, is published in the Official Gazette of Cantabria number 162, dated August 24, 2026, with reference CVE-2026-6635.

The call is framed within Order SAN/26/2022, of December 23, which establishes the regulatory bases for these grants, and in the call resolution of December 1, 2025. The process was resolved following the meetings of the Evaluation Committee held on May 8 and July 13, 2026, and the final proposal from the General Directorate of Public Health on August 5, 2026, with a favorable report from the General Comptroller.

Beneficiaries and funded projects

The grants are mainly destined for active aging, healthy habits, and physical activity programs aimed at older people. Among the beneficiaries are:

• Los Corrales de Buelna City Council (Maintenance gymnastics, €6,058.06)
• Ruiloba City Council (Ruiloba, elderly-friendly city council, €6,236.24)
• Nansa Association of Municipalities (Self-care and reflection workshops, €6,325.33)
• Noja City Council (Get Active, €6,414.42)
• Ampuero City Council (Improvement Program 2026, €6,592.60)
• Santoña City Council (More movement and less medication, €5,879.89)

The expenditure is financed from budget item 10.03.313A.461 of the General Budgets of the Autonomous Community of Cantabria for 2026.

Rejected applications

The resolution rejects several applications for various reasons. Due to non-compliance with the regulatory bases:

• Santa Cruz de Bezana City Council (Supply and installation of outdoor gym equipment, €18,000), as these were considered non-subsidizable expenses for investment in infrastructure and facilities.
• Castro Urdiales City Council (SPD Initiative, €14,904), due to an agreement by the competent body after the application deadline.
• Escalante City Council (Equilibra2, €13,000), for the same reason.

Additionally, applications from Campoo de Yuso, Santiurde de Reinosa, and Arenas de Iguña are rejected for not reaching the minimum score of 65 points required in Order SAN/26/2022 and in the call resolution.

Appeal and deadlines

Against the resolution, which exhausts the administrative route, an optional appeal for reversal may be filed before the Health Councilor within one month of its publication, or a contentious-administrative appeal may be filed within two months before the Contentious-Administrative Courts of Santander.

The resolution consolidates the regional commitment to bringing health prevention and promotion to the local level, with special attention to active aging and healthy habits among the elderly population, a priority group in a community with one of the highest aging rates in the country.

Source: Official Gazette of Cantabria, No. 162, August 24, 2026, section 6 (Grants and Aid), p. 39355 (official reference: CVE-2026-6635).