To improve screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the Haute Autorité de Santé has unveiled recommendations aimed at changing the legislation, particularly in terms of medical secrecy for health professionals.
- In 2022, the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) noted an increase in STIs in France.
- The HAS recently published new recommendations to promote screening and treatment for STIs.
- Among other things, the organization proposes that partner notification can be carried out by a third party, with the patient’s consent.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be transmitted during penetrative or non-penetrative sex. Today, there are more than thirty STIs. We distinguish in particular HIV, Chlamydia trachomatis, gonococcal infection or syphilis.
Recently, the High Authority for Health warned of the drop in STI screenings linked to confinements and the Covid-19 pandemic. An increase in these diseases and a persistent diagnostic delay, particularly in patients “far from the health system” and migrant populations, have also been observed. To combat this phenomenon, the HAS proposes to review the method of informing sexual partners
STIs: a change in the legal framework to promote screening
“Even though measures are regularly implemented to improve their prevention (promotion and facilitation of access to screening, condoms, etc.), the fight against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continues to represent a health challenge. public in France”noted the HAS in a statement published on March 9.
For HAS, the partner notification process is a major prevention tool against STIs. When an STI diagnosis is announced, the health professional generally encourages the so-called “index” patient to inform all the people with whom he has had relations so that they can go get tested and benefit from them, if necessary. , appropriate treatment. This measure “aims to interrupt the chains of transmission, reaching a population at higher risk, so as to minimize the associated morbidity and mortality”underlined the institution.
However, the notification process is currently not used enough. The HAS, seized by the Directorate General of Health, has therefore published various recommendations, in particular to change the legislative framework on professional secrecy which is compulsory for health professionals.
STI: notification soon to be carried out by third parties?
In its press release, the HAS notably mentioned the possibility of choosing the way of informing its partner(s) in the event of an STI. This change would allow the notification process to be carried out by a third party such as a health professional, a person working in an association or a mediator. This solution would be proposed when the infected patient cannot inform his partner(s) for various reasons. His consent must however be “free” and “informed” before starting this process.
Another point raised by the HAS: the accelerated treatment of partners (TAP) which is not authorized in France. In the case of TAP, the health professional issues a prescription to the “index” patient for a partner so that he can carry out a screening without having to carry out a medical consultation. For the HAS, a change in the regulations concerning TAP is essential, as this would allow lovers to be treated more quickly. Many STIs usually cause no symptoms. In the absence of manifestations, patients are therefore less likely to contact a doctor who can diagnose an STI and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
“To measure the deployment, acceptability and impact of all of these recommendations on notification to the partner(s), but also to identify any obstacles, HAS encourages the implementation of a mechanism for evaluation and monitoring by the public authorities. It recommends in particular the establishment of monitoring systems and ad hoc surveys for the most exposed populations”, concluded the HAS.
