Young people aged 18 to 25 will be able to get free condoms in pharmacies in France from next year. President Emmanuel Macron hopes this measure will prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The president announced the measure at a meeting on youth health. Macron spoke of a “small revolution for prevention”. The number of sexually transmitted diseases among young people has increased by about 30 percent in the past two years, health organizations estimate.
The law passed last week will also allow you to undergo an STD test without a referral from your general practitioner, writes the French newspaper The world. It will be free for anyone under the age of 26 to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.
Women will also have easier access to the morning-after pill. It will also be free and will soon be available without a prescription. Last year the government had already announced free contraception for women up to 25 years of age.
