Period Poverty: People Should Not Be Charged For Menstruating

On average people who menstruate do so for 40 years and therefore have to buy 10,000 - 17,000 hygiene items in a lifetime, which puts costs in the thousands.  This is what Volt calls Period Poverty.  As part of the effort to reform the country’s sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights, Volt Malta would like to abolish the country’s Period Poverty, and increase the accessibility of menstruation supplies.

Period Poverty is an unnecessary challenge to the lives of menstruating people, and comes at an extra cost to acquire basic essential goods. Volt Malta notes that these costs further affect  affordability and purchasing power, the key issues furthering income inequality.

To solve this issue Volt Malta is pushing a number of solutions such as the integration of menstrual products such as sanitary pads, tampons, and menstrual cups into the Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme.

Sanitary pads should be free through dispensers from educational institutions, public healthcare facilities and hospitals, foodbanks, prisons, homeless shelters, and public bathrooms. Accessibility to these products should be key to maintaining menstrual hygiene. 

‘’Having a uterus should not come with its own price tag’’ remarked Alexia DeBono, Co-President of Volt Malta.

All menstruation products should also be made reimbursable for any individual purchasing them from any retail outlets and pharmacies, as well as fall under the 0% VAT bracket. 

Volt urges everyone to keep in mind that what may seem like a small expense to most people, is a significant one to the poorest among us, and is one that should not even exist.