Australia: UPA ECPs less available
June 2024. A recent study assessed the availability of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) in Australian community pharmacies. The study found that 30 % of the pharmacies surveyed did not stock ulipristal acetate (UPA) ECPs, despite being recommended as the first-line oral EC. On average, UPA ECPs were 13$ more expensive than LNG ECPs.
ECP accessibility in Australia is similar to most European countries, where UPA and LNG ECPs are directly available from pharmacies without a prescription. The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), ESC, FIGO, IPPF and ECEC recommend that both LNG and UPA ECPs be available and in stock at all times.
Find the study abstract here and news published on ABC Net Australia here.
