The Scottish government has passed a new law guaranteeing that feminine hygiene health products be provided to women for free. Scotland, while part of the United Kingdom, has a measure of home sovereignty akin to that held by the individual states in the U.S.
So many essential health products are not covered by either health insurance plans or government provided health services. These range from things like aspirin and bandages to feminine hygiene products like tampons. There are even militaries and women’s prisons where the women must pay out of pocket for such products.
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The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill has been passed unanimously by MSPs this evening.
Find out more about what the Bill sets out to change: https://t.co/pdkiesJxGG pic.twitter.com/Pfz2TqJIP7
— Scottish Parliament (@ScotParl) November 24, 2020
Women’s groups around the world will of course see this as a victory and use it as a precedent to promote such policies globally. In Israel alone tampons cost women more than $10 a month. That may not sound like much, but there are other products needed as well and the costs add up over time.
According to The Scotsman, the bill presented by Labor health spokeswoman Monica Lennon passed unanimously. Lennon said, Periods don’t stop for pandemics and the work to improve access to essential tampons, pads and reusables has never been more important.”
“Once access to period products is secured for all, our next steps must be ensuring women’s health in general remains high on the political agenda in Scotland and that we end all stigma around menstruation. This should start with menstrual wellbeing education in all schools.’”
“We are in the final miles of a long journey, and I am heartened by the support for the Period Products Bill. I am optimistic that we will complete that ground-breaking journey today,” added Lennon.
Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, Tweeted, “Proud to vote for this groundbreaking legislation, making Scotland the first country in the world to provide free period products for all who need them. An important policy for women and girls.”
