Free sanitary products should be made available for women when necessary, the British Medical Association is stating.
Women in period poverty should be given help, the organisation said in a motion passed at its Annual Representative Meeting yesterday (26 June).
Delegates voted in favour of all female hospital in-patients having access to sanitary products for the duration of their stay. The BMA was instructed to lobby the government for free provision of sanitary products.
The motion stated: "This meeting recognises that reliable access to sanitary products is essential for the health and wellbeing of the menstruating population, and that the current system for distribution can leave those most vulnerable with no option other than to go without."
Co-chair of the BMA medical students committee, Mita Dhullipala, commented: "It would be convenient if you could plan your period around your life, and around your treatment, but sadly this isn’t the case. Having sanitary products easily available in hospitals would save patients the embarrassment of being caught out at a time that is already stressful enough."
She added: "Period supplies are essential but they can be expensive. It is unacceptable that there are still people who cannot access them, usually those who are vulnerable or on low incomes.
"Period poverty can be stopped by making sure these products are available to those who can’t afford them."
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