France is among the most progressive countries in Europe for HIV prevention. PrEP has been 100% reimbursed since 2016. HIV tests are available without a prescription at any lab in the country. The CeGIDD network provides free, anonymous care to everyone — citizen, tourist, or undocumented. The system rewards those who know how to use it.
The Three Golden Rules
1. The CeGIDD Is the Safety Net
A CeGIDD (Centre Gratuit d'Information, de Dépistage et de Diagnostic) provides free, anonymous HIV and STI testing, PrEP initiation, and vaccine access to everyone — no Carte Vitale, no ID, no papers required. Every département has one. This is your starting point if you're new to the system, uninsured, or visiting.
2. Sécu Covers Almost Everything — If You're In the System
French residents with Assurance Maladie (Sécurité Sociale) coverage pay €0 for PrEP medication, HIV testing, STI treatment, and many vaccines. The tiers payant system means you often pay nothing at the counter and the state settles directly. The key is having and understanding your Carte Vitale.
3. For PEP, Go Directly to Public Hospital Urgences — Not a Private Clinic
French private clinics (cliniques) frequently do not stock TPE (the French acronym for PEP) medication. Always go to a CH or CHU (public hospital) emergency department. In Paris: Saint-Louis, Tenon, or Bichat. Say: "J'ai eu un risque d'exposition au VIH. J'ai besoin d'un TPE."
Quick Reference
| What you need | Where to go |
|---|---|
| HIV test only, free, no prescription | Any laboratoire d'analyses — "HIV test sans ordonnance" |
| Full STI panel (anonymous, free) | CeGIDD — cegidd.fr or Doctolib |
| Gay-friendly rapid testing, Paris | Le Kiosque / Checkpoint Paris — 45 Rue Rambuteau, 75004 |
| PrEP (free, resident) | CeGIDD or médecin — €0 with Carte Vitale |
| PrEP (no insurance / tourist) | CeGIDD → PASS → hospital pharmacy |
| PEP emergency (Paris) | Hôpital Saint-Louis, Tenon, or Bichat — Urgences, 24/7 |
| PEP emergency (outside Paris) | Nearest CHU Urgences — call 15 for direction |
| Vaccines (Mpox, Hep A/B) | CeGIDD or GP + pharmacie + infirmière libérale — free |
| HPV vaccine (under 26) | GP prescription → pharmacie → nurse — mostly free |
| DoxyPEP | CeGIDD or médecin référent — ask explicitly |
| Mental health | 3114 (crisis, free 24/7), Centre LGBTQ+ Paris, AIDES |
| Chemsex support | AIDES, Charonne (CSAPA), Le Kiosque |
Your Articles — In Detail
The CeGIDD
The CeGIDD — France's Free Sexual Health Clinics — What they are, what they do, how to find one, key Paris CeGIDDs, Le Kiosque, AIDES.
Testing
Testing in France — Labs and the Sans Ordonnance Route — HIV test without prescription at any lab, full STI panel via ordonnance, three-site gap, self-tests, results system.
PrEP
PrEP in France — 100% Remboursé — Free via Sécu/Carte Vitale (ALD status), CeGIDD initiation, AME/PASS for uninsured, quarterly monitoring via laboratoire.
PEP
PEP — Emergency HIV Prevention (TPE) — Saint-Louis, Tenon, Bichat in Paris. Regional CHUs. What to say, what happens, 72-hour window.
Vaccines
Vaccines in France — Mpox free, Hep A/B reimbursed for gay and bisexual men, HPV free under 26, expensive over 26. How the French vaccine system works (prescription → pharmacy → nurse).
Doctor Vocabulary
French Healthcare Vocabulary — Key terms (Sécu, Carte Vitale, tiers payant, ordonnance, TPE, IST, VIH), useful phrases, digital health systems (Ameli, Mon Espace Santé, Doctolib).
DoxyPEP
DoxyPEP in France — Available from CeGIDD doctors and médecins référents; inexpensive (€5–10/course); what it covers; how to ask.
Mental Health
Mental Health Support in France — 3114 crisis line, SOS Amitié, Centre LGBTQ+ Paris, AIDES psychosocial support, Mon soutien psy (public therapy funding), LGBTQ+-affirming therapist search.
Chemsex
Chemsex in France — Crystal, GHB, mephedrone. AIDES (specialist in gay men's chemsex), Charonne CSAPA, harm reduction, GHB emergency protocol.
Outside Paris
Sexual Health Outside Paris — Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nantes, Lille, Strasbourg. CeGIDD and CHU Urgences for every major city. Rural access via HIV sans ordonnance labs and SAMU 15.
General Education
- How HIV transmission actually works
- PrEP — how it works
- PEP — how it works
- DoxyPEP — the evidence explained
- STI overview — every infection
- Testing protocol — how often and what
- Vaccine guide — all vaccines explained
- Chemsex — harm reduction guide
- GHB/GBL safety
- Mental health and gay men
- The prevention stack
Emergency Contacts
| Service | Contact |
|---|---|
| Emergency (all) | 112 |
| SAMU (Medical emergency, PEP routing) | 15 |
| Police | 17 |
| Crisis line (suicide prevention) | 3114 (free, 24/7) |
| SOS Amitié (emotional support) | 09 72 39 40 50 (24/7) |
| AIDES (HIV community) | 0800 840 800 (free) |
| SOS Homophobie | 01 48 06 42 41 |
| Le Kiosque Paris | lekiosqueparis.org |