From 1 September 2026, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano has inaugurated an annual experimental plan dedicated to sexual and reproductive health. The measure, approved by the Provincial Council in June in implementation of the 2025 family counseling law, allows residents aged between 14 and 25 and citizens in conditions of health or social vulnerability to obtain free contraceptive drugs and devices. The initiative is based on an initial allocation of 500,000 euros and aims to promote informed decisions, reducing the risks linked to unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
The provincial councilor for health prevention and health, Hubert Messner, highlighted the strategic value of primary prevention in the area, underlining how information and medical advice must accompany the direct provision of the prescribed measures. The need for a structured intervention is confirmed by the findings carried out by the provincial statistics institute ASTAT: during 2025, 595 voluntary interruptions of pregnancy were recorded in the South Tyrolean territory, with an increase of 13.3% compared to the previous twelve months. The report indicates that almost half of the cases involved women aged between 18 and 29, while approximately 24% of those involved had already faced a previous IVG.
The aids that can be provided and the prescriptive path in open structures
The program covers a wide range of pharmacological and mechanical options accessible to young people of all genders, subject to mandatory medical evaluation. The aids supplied include the contraceptive pill, the vaginal ring, the transdermal patch, the subcutaneous implant and the intrauterine device (spiral).
To obtain the drugs or devices, the user must carry out a personalized information interview and, where necessary, undergo a gynecological examination. At the end of the process, a prescriptive card is issued with which you can collect the products free of charge within 30 days at the participating public or private pharmacies. Condoms follow a different channel and are distributed free of charge directly in the clinics.
The first phase of implementation involves the affiliated private family counseling centers and the child and adolescent clinics active in the gynecological departments of the hospitals of Bressanone, Vipiteno and San Candido. The network will progressively be extended to all public facilities managed by the Alto Adige Health Authority. At the end of the twelve month trial, the administration will evaluate the epidemiological and operational results to decide whether to extend the trial or permanently include the service in the provincial Essential Levels of Assistance.
@Alto Adige Health Authority
