Free condoms will be available for people between 18 and 25 years old amid rising Std rates
The rise of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in France has set off alarm bells in the country, causing the enactment of a new law to address the crisis head-on. Emmanuel Macron announced Friday that from January 2022, condoms would be freely available at pharmacies for 18-to-25-year-olds nationwide.
The effort is building on other measures for better health, including free emergency contraception for all women at pharmacies and free screenings for STDs without a prescription for those younger than 26, Macron said on Twitter.
The moves come as France says sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are rising among youth, and this year’s extraordinary inflation has slashed the budgets of poorer French residents. French lawmakers have been pushing to expand access to hormonal birth control and condoms to curb unwanted pregnancies and combat the spread of STDs.
After appearing on French TV, Macron was challenged by TV. anchors and others on social media about why he did not include minors, the President agreed to extend the program. Since 2018, French residents have been allowed to have the cost of condoms reimbursable through the national health system, as long as it was purchased at pharmacies using a prescription.
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