The government has announced that the morning-after pill is set to become free from pharmacies later this year. The emergency contraception is already available for free from many GPs and sexual health clinics. But now, according to ministers, getting it from pharmacies will end a “postcode lottery” where some councils fund the free prescription while others can charge as much as £30.
The goal is that this will also help reduce the number of GP appointments and reduce the inequalities faced by those trying to access the medication in more disadvantaged communities.
Emergency contraception is designed to prevent unwanted pregnancies. It is usually taken within three to five days of having sex but the sooner it is taken, the more effective it can be. Making the morning-after pill available through the NHS from pharmacies hopes to end the “unfair” barriers that some are facing when needing to access it, the government said.
Equal access “to safe and effective contraception is crucial to women’s healthcare and a cornerstone of a fair society,” said health minister Stephen Kinnock. “Women across England face an unfair postcode lottery when seeking emergency contraception, with access varying dramatically depending on where they live.” The plan, Kinnock added, “will ensure all women can access this essential healthcare when they need it, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay.”
The initiative comes among a wider range of investments towards the community pharmacies sector. The move has been welcomed by the National Pharmacy Association who said that it is “good news for patients and pharmacies alike.” It is important, it added, that the NHS “fully reimburses” pharmacies for the time it takes to conduct a consultation before the pills can be given.
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