Czech schools to provide free menstrual products from 2026

From January 2026, all Czech schools must supply menstrual products in girls’ bathrooms, the Health Ministry announced. Health Minister Vlastimil Válek (TOP 09) said no student should have to leave school or improvise during her period. The costs are estimated at around CZK 22,500 per year for a primary school and up to CZK 27,000 for a secondary school, with total nationwide expenses of about CZK 120 million annually. Free pads will help not only girls from low-income families but also those unprepared for unexpected periods. Czechia currently levies one of the EU’s highest VAT rates—21 percent—on such products. Their compulsory provision in elementary and secondary schools hase become a topic of a heated debate.