Free Condoms for 18-25 Year Olds in France... Macron Calls It a "Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention Revolution"

France to Provide Free at Pharmacies from Next Year
Expansion of Cost Reimbursement Measures for Medical Prescriptions

French President Macron announced measures to prevent sexually transmitted diseases at the National Reconstruction Committee on youth health on the 8th (local time).
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Sung-wook] Starting next year, young people under the age of 25 in France will be able to use condoms for free. On the 8th (local time), according to AFP and other sources, French President Emmanuel Macron announced this government policy at the National Reconstruction Committee meeting focused on youth health.

The French government stated that to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, condoms sold at pharmacies will be provided free of charge to young people aged 18 to 25 starting next year. Since December 2018, France has allowed reimbursement of condom purchase costs by public health authorities for medical prescriptions to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and sexually transmitted diseases. This new policy expands on the existing measures. President Macron called it a "small revolution for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases."

President Macron emphasized HPV vaccination, mentioning that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a risk factor for cervical cancer. He said, "We do not rule out the possibility of mandatory vaccination when there is proper scientific recommendation," adding, "This is an issue that requires information delivery at schools, and the government must make greater efforts for this."

Regarding sex education overall, he added, "We are not doing very well on this topic," and said, "Reality and theory are very different. We need to persuade teachers effectively to raise their awareness."

The French government had previously announced that contraceptive pills would be provided free of charge to women without a doctor's prescription. While minors and students could receive free contraceptive pills at pharmacies and schools, the plan is to expand this to all age groups.

Fran?ois Braun, Minister of Health, said in an interview with the media last September, "To protect women from unwanted pregnancies, we will provide emergency contraceptive pills free of charge to women of all ages," adding, "It is important to eliminate the burden associated with contraception."

Additionally, to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, while only HIV tests were previously free, the plan is to make all sexually transmitted disease tests free for those up to 26 years old.

According to the French National Health Authority (HAS), vaccination is necessary to combat over 6,000 cases of cancer annually, including cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, and vaginal cancer in women, as well as oropharyngeal cancer and anal cancer in men. It is especially known that 25% of cancers caused by HPV are transmitted by men. President Macron said on this day, "The health of young people must be taken very seriously."