Free birth control pill? Let’s curb the enthusiasm, because in Italy it’s not yet the law. An initiative of the Italian Medicines Agency, which decided less than a month ago to guarantee free access for all women without age restrictions is now facing the bewilderment of the government, which seems intent on blocking it. There are many politicians close to the executive branch who do not like this proposal, some for economic reasons (total costs to be incurred by the state will be about 140 million euros per year), a phenomenon of declining birth rates that endanger women’s reproductive health.
Birth control pills are also prescribed as hormone therapy in response to gynecological as well as dermatological problems.. But back to the political issue, because after the approval of the reward by the AIF commissions, scientific and technical (STC) and those dealing with prices and reimbursements (CPR), there were several attempts to boycott the initiative, for the moment a shipwreck. Already at the time of taking office, the new government announced its intention to reform AIFA, forcing the CEO to disappear and leave only the president, but the slowness with which the reform project is moving forward forced the extension of the unwanted CTS and Cpr, who will remain in office until at least October.
The aforementioned economic question, held by MP Luca Chiriani, who feared a “breakthrough in pharmaceutical spending” in the Chamber, does not pose a real threat, especially since the Meloni government has repeatedly announced an increase in health care funding and that there seems to be enough money: last year, funds, allocated for pharmaceuticals amounted to 8.7 billion, but not all of them were spent. Since 2022, 700 million euros have been advanced, then reinvested by the regions, he recalls. Republic.
In the event that it is not possible to “continue with the program of listing oral contraceptives in the national health service directory”, the Board of Directors, led by Giorgio Palu, could at least seek free distribution of the drug to consultants. It is also assumed that free medicine will be reserved for certain categories.such as girls under 25, women who have given birth or had an abortion, or those who are struggling due to economic or health problems, drawing inspiration from what is already happening in regions such as Lazio and Tuscany. At the moment, the Agency is oriented on the ground.
Source: Elle