Contraception atlas for Europe released

In February 2017, the European Parliamentary Forum on Population & Development launched the ContraceptionAtlas, a map scoring 45 European countries on access to modern contraception. Included among the examined factors are number of contraceptives available, what sort of information is available online, level of reimbursement, and availability of emergency contraception. According to the atlas, France is number…

New EC tools from Switzerland

In March 2016, pharmaSuisse and IENK (groupe interdisciplinaire d’experts/es en contraception d’urgence) published tools to facilitate EC counseling and provision among health care professionals, such as pharmacists and family planning staff. These tools, including a flow-chart (seen at right), are available in French, German, and Italian and can be accessed through the box on the…

Abortion rate drops in Italy

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…

Launch of bpas campaign for affordable, accessible EC

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (bpas) recently launched a campaign in the UK calling for LNG EC to be made available directly on pharmacy shelves at an affordable price. Currently in the UK, women can only obtain EC from behind the pharmacy counter after a consultation with a pharmacist, and LNG EC costs up to £30,…

Medicines Authority recommends OTC sale of EC in Malta

On October 17th, 2016, the head of the Malta Medicines Authority, Serracino Inglott, announced that the sale of EC pills will be allowed without a prescription. According to an article from Times of Malta: “The authority has always based its decisions on three things; quality, safety of patients and efficacy. By asking patients to go to doctors…

Malta Medical Journal editorial on emergency contraception

(October 5, 2016)  The fall issue of the Journal of the University of Malta Medical School (Vol.28 Issue 3, 2016) focuses its editorial on emergency contraception. The article states that the most recent scientific evidence shows that LNG ECP delays ovulation and does not prevent implantation nor does ECP cause the loss of implanted embryos, and…

EMA recommends double dose of LNG EC when used with enzyme-inducers

On May 2016, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended the use of a non-hormonal emergency contraceptive (EC) when a woman in need of EC is using other interacting medicines (such as the HIV medicine efavirenz and ritonavir, certain medicines for tuberculosis and epilepsy, and herbal medicines containing St John’s wort). If using a cooper IUD…

New study looks into EC status in Europe one year after the UPA switch

A study published in March 2016 by researchers from the Department of International Health of Maastricht University, assesses the status of EC pills in European Union and associated countries a year after UPA was allowed for sale without prescription, and also looks into the impact of this switch on EC pills sales. Status of Emergency Contraceptives in Europe One Year…

In Malta: women´s groups demand access to EC

In June 2016, the Maltese NGO Women’s Rights Foundation (WRF) filed a judicial protest on behalf of 102 women, requesting that emergency contraception is licensed, available, and accessible locally. The Minister of Health announced that the issue will be discussed at the Parliament Social Affairs committee in the coming months. Despite being a member of the European Union,…