Private MD News

Free STD testing services fall victim to cities' budget woes

Category: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

With many state and local budgets cutting services in order to manage deficits, free STD testing services in areas across the country are being eliminated. This is forcing individuals to find other providers of screening services.

For example, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene of New York City recently decided to stop offering free STD testing, according to the Queens Chronicle. The agency previously offered screening for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes.

Workers at one clinic that formerly offered testing services provided by the city said that they were currently referring individuals seeking STD testing to local primary care physicians. However, they worry that some patients may have difficulty paying for the service. This may lead to lower rates of testing and increased risk of infections spreading.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called regular STD testing for all at-risk individuals the most effective way to contain the transmission of infections. However, in this time of strained budgets, it may be more difficult for patients to access these services.

There are still many online testing companies that may be able to offer STD screenings at a reasonable rate.