13:00 11/09/2021
The French health minister said young women have the right to contraception even if they cannot afford it. Previously, birth control was free only for girls aged 18 and under.
French Health Minister Olivier Veran announced during an interview the other day that soon, all women aged 25 and under will be able to get birth control pills and other contraceptives for free.
"It is unacceptable that women cannot protect themselves and use contraceptives just because it costs money," Veran told France 2 television.
The move comes as President Emmanuel Macron is trying to reap domestic victories ahead of next year's national elections.
Free contraceptives are linked to a drop in abortions
Previously, contraception was completely free for girls up to the age of 18, regardless of health insurance. Since the entry into force of this measure in 2013, the newspaper "Le Monde" reports that the rate of abortions among teenage girls dropped significantly.
Veran said that with the new law the age of 25 was determined, as it is the time limit at which girls can no longer be covered by their parents' health insurance and that there should be more "independence" in terms of "social and financial". He added that the data showed a decline in the use of the birth control pill when it was no longer free.
The health minister said the plan would cost 21 million euros ($24.8 million) a year, but did not say how much the government and individuals would save by avoiding unwanted pregnancies.
The new law will enter into force on January 1, Veran declared in "France 2"./DW
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