In a progressive move towards addressing menstrual equity, the Czech Ministry of Health has announced that all schools must provide menstrual products in female restrooms starting January 2026. Health Minister Vlastimil Válek made the announcement during a Friday press conference, emphasizing that “menstruation is not a choice, but a natural part of life, and no student should have to leave school, improvise with toilet paper, or feel embarrassed asking for help.”
The new regulation will apply to all restrooms used by female students aged nine and older, ensuring that even elementary schools cannot exclude facilities used by younger girls. According to ministry estimates, the annual cost will be approximately 22,500 Czech crowns for primary schools and 27,000 crowns for secondary schools with predominantly female students. The nationwide implementation is expected to cost around 120 million crowns annually, which schools will need to allocate from their existing budgets.
The European Parliament highlighted menstrual poverty as an unresolved issue in the EU in its January 2019 resolution on gender equality and tax policy, estimating that one in ten girls cannot afford hygiene products. The Czech Republic has one of the highest VAT rates on menstrual products at 21%, generating between 150-300 million crowns annually. By comparison, Slovakia taxes these products at 9.5%, Germany at 7%, while the UK and Ireland have eliminated taxes altogether and provide free products in schools.
Some municipalities have already embraced similar initiatives. Brno approved a pilot project in March to provide free menstrual products, with 56 of 65 state-run primary schools expressing interest. The city has selected a supplier and allocated approximately 800,000 crowns for the program. Martin Vrubel, deputy mayor of Brno-střed district, supports the measure, noting, “We don’t bring our own toilet paper, so why should this be different? It will help female students feel safer and not fear coming to school during challenging periods.”
However, not all educational administrators welcome the change. Tomáš Koukal, head of the education department at Jihlava City Hall, expressed strong opposition, calling it “dictation from above” and claiming most school principals share his negative view. He disagrees with the argument that free supplies would reduce female student absences, controversially stating, “When these girls can afford mobile phones, artificial nails, and cigarettes, I think they can also afford basic hygiene products.”