The VAT applied to condoms will drop on January 1. This is what the Minister of Health is announcing with other measures aimed at young people.
“The condom is really decisive! »Underlines Marisol Touraine, Minister of Health, in an interview with Sunday Newspaper (JDD) from 1er December. It announces a new series of measures against AIDS. On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the Minister details the government plan to reduce the number of HIV infections.
5.5% VAT
Condom use is declining among homosexuals, the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin (BEH) announced on November 29. The World Health Organization is also issuing the alert: the number of young people with HIV has increased by a third since 2001. Marisol Touraine makes widespread use of condoms her hobbyhorse. To do this, it is implementing a strong measure: lowering the price of condoms.
“Instead of increasing to 1er January as expected, the VAT rate applied to them will drop from 7% to 5.5%, ”said the Minister in The JDD.
The Minister asks manufacturers to pass this drop on to the price of boxes of condoms. This should represent a saving of 10 to 20 euro cents per box purchased. A measure which should, according to her, “encourage young and old” to use condoms more often to protect themselves. Their price can vary from single to double depending on the place of purchase, with a minimum price of 20 euro cents. From high school to pharmacy via tobacconist and gas station, many points of sale are available to buy these products. For those with less money, it is also possible to obtain condoms free of charge from family planners, screening centers or associations fighting against AIDS.
Raise awareness among teens
The other main axis of the fight against HIV: securing sexual life from adolescence. The Minister of Health suggests improving access to care for minors and promoting screening without parental consent. It also announces the launch of a prevention campaign, intended mainly for young people. Its slogan: “Against AIDS, the best defense is the condom. “
But screening is also an area to improve, particularly in populations at risk (homosexuals, prostitutes, migrants). This will require the development of self-tests, leaving the traditional circuit (hospital, screening center). The goal: to reduce the number of people unaware of their HIV status, around 30,000. A presence on the ground is necessary, with people particularly exposed. Regarding the self-tests file, which should be authorized in early 2014, Marisol Touraine mentioned a procedure “well underway. “
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