Morning-after pill to be given out free at pharmacies

The morning-to-pill will be free in all pharmacies in England in an attempt to end an ‘unfair zip-loan’ for the contraceptive.

The proposal will be announced on Monday as part of the government’s plans for investment in pharmacies in the community, with the change that will come into effect later this year.

This comes after sexual health experts asked last year that the contraceptive should be made available for general sale in places such as supermarkets and petrol stations.

It is free from most general practitioners and sexual health clinics, but can cost up to £ 30 of pharmacies. Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said the plan would make sure that “women could access this essential health care”.

“Women across England have an unfair zip code -float as their emergency contraception, with access that vary dramatically, depending on where they live,” Mr. Kinnock told the BBC.

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‘[This plan will ensure] Women can access this essential healthcare if they need it, no matter where they live or their ability to pay, ”Mr. Kinnock added.

The morning-to-pill, designed to stop unwanted pregnancies, is usually taken within three to five days after unprotected sex, but is more effective when taken sooner.

Dr Janet Barter, president of the faculty of sexual and reproductive health care, said last year it was important to remove barriers to contraception.

“Access to contraception is such a basic human right and it is high time that we remove the obstacles that people experience, access to oral emergency contraception,” Dr Barter said.

‘We want to make oral emergency contraception free and easily accessible to anyone who needs it, at a time and place that suits them, be it in a supermarket or in their local sexual health clinic.

“We believe that the reclassification of oral emergency contraception from a pharmacy medicine to general sales list would be an enormous step forward, giving people autonomy and empowering them to make the right decision for themselves.”

She said it is of the “utmost importance” for women to gain access to the morning pill as soon as possible.

Her calls were supported by 14,000 health workers and organizations, including the Royal College of GPS, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine and the Faculty of Public Health.