It was an unexpected measure.
At the end of a session of the National Council for Refoundation (CNR), Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday, December 8, free condoms in pharmacies for 18-25 year olds, from January 1, 2023. A system extended from the next day to all under 26s.
It is an "
additional tool to fight against AIDS and sexually transmitted infections
" says the state.
According to Santé Publique France, 15% of people who discovered their HIV status in 2021 were under the age of 26.
Who can benefit ?
Initially, Emmanuel Macron announced free condoms in pharmacies for 18-25 year olds only on December 8.
A measure that the Head of State had presented as “
a small prevention revolution
”
.
Questioned later, in particular by the host Christophe Dechavanne on Twitter, Emmanuel Macron chose to extend the measure to minors the next day, December 9.
“
What guides my action is to protect our fellow citizens, to protect our youth
,
”
wrote the President of the Republic at the time.
Read alsoPrEP, this “anti-AIDS pill” which is essential in prevention
From now on, it is therefore all those under 26 who will be able to benefit from free condoms, from January 1, 2023. This measure applies to both boys and girls.
However, only male condoms will be reimbursed.
“
It is often the partner of the person concerned who comes.
It's the same thing with the morning after pill
”
,
confides to
Figaro
Philippe Besset, president of the federation of pharmaceutical unions of France (FSPF).
Read alsoHomosexual patients: monkey pox causes resurgence of “trauma of the AIDS years”
There is no minimum age: this will be left to the discretion of the pharmacist.
“
If a six-year-old asks for a box of condoms, of course we won't give it to him
,
”
slips Philippe Besset, however.
Minors are among the main beneficiaries of the approximately 5 to 6 million condoms distributed free of charge each year, whether in the reception and listening points for young people, in the infirmary of middle and high schools, in the activity centers or the Maisons des Youth and Culture (MJC).
According to the government, this is in addition to
"several measures already taken to improve the sexual health of young people"
, such as free HIV serological testing without a prescription for all, since the beginning of 2022.
How to get free condoms?
The measure announced by the President of the Republic will only apply in pharmacies.
It will suffice, for those under 26, to go to a pharmacy and make the request.
The person concerned must first give their age orally to the pharmacist.
If she is of legal age, the age will be verified from the Carte Vitale.
Otherwise, no supporting documents should be requested.
In the latter case, “
the request will still be declared to Health Insurance by the pharmacist
”
,
suggests Philippe Besset.
Read alsoThe successes of PrEP should not overshadow other STIs
Pharmacists will initially be able to deliver boxes of 24 condoms of the “Eden” brand or 12 for the “Sortez Couverts” brand.
"
Everything will be done by third-party payment, that is to say that the person who requests these boxes will have nothing to advance
"
,
assures Philippe Besset, who adds that "
this will be supported 100%
" by the 'Health Insurance.
Free only concerns male condoms, “
for now
”
.
Until then, some male condoms were already reimbursed by Social Security with no age limit, but on mandatory prescription from a doctor or midwife.
According to Health Insurance, 542,893 boxes (of 6, 12 or 24 condoms) were reimbursed in 2021, up 31% over one year.
Can we get as many as we want?
Only one box can be delivered free of charge per day and per person.
All you have to do is come back the next day to get a new box of condoms for free, under the same conditions as the day before.
“
I still think that a box of 12 a day is enough
,
”
quips Philippe Besset.
Is this enough to protect those under 26?
According to the association for the fight against AIDS AIDES, quoted by AFP, "
we must also make available other prevention tools, in particular PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis)".
“
This is a treatment that prevents contamination with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
[responsible for AIDS, editor’s note].
It does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
, ”explains to
Le Figaro
Claire Alquier, sexologist and member of the infectious and tropical diseases department at Tenon hospital (AP-HP).
According to her, this gratuity is a "
good thing
"
,
but "
the condom does not
.
"
We must inform and make screenings more accessible
", she indicates in particular.
Since January 1, 2022, HIV screening has been accessible free of charge and without a prescription “
for all
”
,
complete for
Le Figaro
Marc Perrussel, vice-president of the national union of dermatologists-venereologists (SNDV).
For him, free condoms for those under 26 allows "
faster and unhindered access to purchase
" in an age group in which "
sexual activity is more intense
"
.
According to these two specialists, condoms remain very effective against STIs.
According to the latest data from Public Health France, the number of new diagnoses of HIV infection was around 5,000 in 2021, a stable figure compared to 2020.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/KMEYMJKESBAZBE4MRBAM4TGHIQ.jpg)
