A friendly reminder, on Human Rights Day:

(December 16, 2016)  As of December 14, 2016, and for the first time in the history of Malta, dedicated emergency contraceptive pills are available for purchase behind the counter in Maltese pharmacies. UPA EC pills are already on the market, and LNG pills are expected in the coming weeks. Untill 2016, Malta was the only…

January 2022. Last December, Welsh Health authorities announced changes on the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework. These will enable all pharmacies to provide emergency contraception (EC) and some forms of routine contraception. Other priority services that will be included are the common ailment, emergency medicine supply and seasonal influenza vaccination services. The 713 community pharmacies registered…

According to a report published by the Italian Ministry of Health (available in English), the abortion rate in Italy dropped by 9,3% in 2015. In April 2015, the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) eliminated the mandatory prescription requirement for UPA EC pills for women older than 18, and in October 2015, AIFA eliminated the mandatory prescription requirement for LNG EC pills as well. This…

A study published in The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care assessed awareness and knowledge of EC among adolescents in Berlin, Germany. The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey among ninth graders in a convenience sample of 13 Berlin schools in which they assessed perceived and actual knowledge on the effectiveness, timeframe, and availability of…

August 2020. In Australia, the Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health COVID-19 Coalition just published the consensus statement on the provision of emergency contraception, which includes recommendations for primary care, pharmacy and policy. Some of the recommendations are: For primary care: Women should be advised of all available emergency contraception (EC) methods at the point of contact. Interdisciplinary collaborations and…

October 2021. Last week, the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) launched a report on access to contraception during the COVID-19 pandemic in 46 European countries. The report concludes that countries that usually prioritize and protect sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), took measures to ensure continued access to contraception during…