The Otago University Students' Association says it has been offering subsidised sanitary products since the start of the year in a bid to curtail the ''unfair costs'' of products people are forced to buy.
Victoria University students and Salvation Army staff gathered in Wellington on Tuesday to discuss the cost of sanitary products after reports of pupils and students skipping school and university because they could not afford to buy sanitary items.
OUSA vice-president Jarred Griffiths said he did not know of reports of such cases at the University of Otago, but the association was ''concerned'' about the cost of such items.
''It is unfair people who have no real choice are having to pay the full cost of products when they are already financially squeezed.''
OUSA had always sought to assist students in financial hardship and was pleased a permanent subsidy had been established.
Heavily discounted products could be bought at the Clubs and Societies Centre.
