A new year begins, and it brings its share of novelties on the health side! Here are the main changes to note:
Free condoms up to 25 years old
After expanding free access to emergency contraception for all women (regardless of age), the government made condoms free for young people under 25.
Concretely, to benefit from this measure, it is now enough to go to a pharmacy and make the request: for adults, the vital card will be requested. For minors, no document will be necessary.
Pharmacists will be able to deliver a box of 24 Eden brand condoms or 12 for the Sortez Couverts brand. For the moment, only male condoms are concerned by this advance. Only one box can be delivered free of charge per day and per person.
More info on the official website of the Ministry of Health.
A carer for people with intellectual disabilities
People with impaired mental, psychic or cognitive functions, as well as deafblind people (that is to say: who have the double disability of blindness and deafness) can, since January 1, 2023, access funding of a personal assistant to perform acts of daily living.
This measure is now available to people who have difficulty managing their stress in the face of the unexpected, managing their social interactions, planning and carrying out their usual activities (such as shopping, taking public transport, etc.) and/or to carry out the tasks of daily living (preparing meals, going to a medical appointment, etc.).
The time for human assistance for autonomy support may reach 3 hours per day.
More info on the official site of the public service.
Seven new diseases included in newborn screening
Until now, during the first days of life of all babies born in France, 6 rare diseases were systematically screened for: phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, cystic fibrosis, MCAD deficiency and sickle cell disease. There was also mandatory screening for permanent deafness.
Since January 1, 2023, 7 new diseases have joined neonatal screening: homocystinuria, leucinosis, type 1 tyrosinemia, type 1 glutaric aciduria, isovaleric aciduria, 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A deficiency long-chain fatty acid dehydrogenase and carnitine uptake deficiency. These diseases correspond to enzymatic deficiencies and can have serious consequences on the health of the child: they are fortunately rare.
More info on the official website of the Health Insurance.
