Access to emergency contraception, or the morning after pill, will be free for all women regardless of their age, in pharmacies and without a prescription, Health Minister François Braun announces in an interview published online on Tuesday. by the newspaper 20 Minutes.
Screening for sexually transmitted infections will also be free and without a prescription up to the age of 26, and these two measures will be included in the 2023 social security financing bill, which will be presented to the Council of Ministers on 26 December. September.
“When it comes to female contraception, we are reinforcing (…) the protection of women by facilitating their access to emergency contraception (or the morning after pill) in pharmacies, free of charge and without a prescription, at any age. ”, announces François Braun.
Women’s rights “are absolute priorities”
Until now, the morning-after pill was available for free and without a prescription only to minors, at pharmacies, school nurses or sexual health or screening centers, and to adult students.
The cost in pharmacies for adults ranged between 3 and 20 euros depending on the medication, with the possibility of partial coverage by social security upon presentation of a medical prescription.
“Le gouvernement agit concrètement pour que les femmes ne renocent plus à la contraception d’urgence pour des raisons financiers, premier reason for renoncement chez les femmes”, commented in a communiqué Isabelle Rome, minister delegated to l’Egalité among femmes et the men.
“At a time when we are witnessing the rise of conservatism in Europe and around the world, our government is demonstrating once again that gender equality and women’s right to dispose of their bodies are top priorities,” she added.
The number of STI cases on the rise
As for STI screening, only HIV screening was so far free. “From now on, the possibility of screening will be extended to all sexually transmitted infections in order to fight as soon as possible against (the) resumption of infections,” explains François Braun in 20 Minutes.
The minister, in effect, observes “the increase in sexually transmitted infections, specifically chlamydia and gonococcus” and considers that “all areas of prevention must be improved” because “France is lagging behind other countries Europeans. Only 2% of our budget is dedicated to prevention against 4% for our neighbors”.
As for the causes, “it is very complicated” to know them, he admits, evoking “a lack of prevention, information or a more general relaxation”.
Source: BFM TV
