Belgium: New tool informs of choices in emergency contraception

Belgium: New tool informs of choices in emergency contraception

April 2023. In Belgium, the Fédération Laïque de Centres de Planning Familial (FLCPF) recently launched a new website to inform individuals that need contraception after sex, of the choices available to them and guide them through. The website includes a short and anonymous on-line questionnaire that helps decide what are the optimal postcoital contraption methods…

Universal access to EC pills in Peru

Universal access to EC pills in Peru

March 2023. In Peru, on March 30 the Constitutional Court finally issued its ruling regarding the case of universal access to emergency contraception (EC) pills. The Court ordered the Ministry of Health to continue providing free-of-cost LNG EC pills nationwide, through the public health network. According to the Court press release, the magistrates considered that,…

New data on EC provision in 42 countries

New data on EC provision in 42 countries

March 2023. Since 2010, USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM), collects data on national contraceptive security policies. In collaboration with ECEC and ICEC, GHSC-PSM just published a brief that highlights trends and recent findings from survey data specific to emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs), including:  The data shows that overall,…

Spain: Myths around use of emergency contraception

Spain: Myths around use of emergency contraception

March 2023. Sexual education is not mandatory in Spain, and the educational system does not guarantee the provision of adequate sexual education. As a consequence, the knowledge of contraceptive methods is riddled with myths and hoaxes, some of them very deep-rooted.  The Spanish Society of Contraception (Sociedad Española de Contracepción) works to dispel theses myths…

Luxembourg: Free contraception, including EC, for women of any age. 

March 2023. Luxembourg just announced a new policy regarding contraception: all short and long acting reversible contraceptives requiring a medical prescription and irreversible contraceptives will be fully covered without age-limits. Emergency contraception pills will be provided free of cost in any pharmacy, and a doctor’s prescription will not be required for gratuity. This new policy…

Argentina: New campaign to improve access to EC

Argentina: New campaign to improve access to EC

March 2023. In Argentina, a coalition of organizations just launched the campaign “AHE ACCESIBLE” to make emergency contraception pills (ECPs) easier and faster to access, and to strengthen knowledge on EC, especially among young people.  As part of these efforts, the campaign is collecting signatures to request the Minister of Health to remove barriers to…

Honduras finally frees emergency contraception pills

Honduras finally frees emergency contraception pills

March 2023. Honduras’ President Xiomara Castro announced on March 8 that emergency contraception pills will be allowed to be marketed and used in the country. According to Reuters, the President “signed an executive order ending a ban of more than 10 years on the use and sale of the “morning after pill,” fulfilling a campaign…

Peru: AOE para todas

Peru: AOE para todas

February 2023. In Peru, the long-awaited hearing of the emergency contraception case took place in the Constitutional Court on February 28, 2023. The court discussed if the provision of emergency contraception pills (ECPs) through the public health network, is in accordance with Constitutional law. In Peru, ECPs are allowed for sale in pharmacies (paid out…

Spain: EC to be finally free in all public health services

Spain: EC to be finally free in all public health services

February 2023. In 2009, emergency contraception pills (ECPs) were reclassified to pharmacy products in Spain and prescription requirements were removed. This was a first measure to equalize access in all country’s territory.  Last week, a new step was taken in this direction: according to the text of the Reform of the law on Sexual and…

Contraception Atlas 2023

Contraception Atlas 2023

February 2023. On February 8th, the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights (EPF) launched the 6th edition of the European Contraception Policies Atlas. Members of the European Parliament Sophie in ‘t Veld and Fred Matic, chaired the event. The United Kingdom, France and Belgium are once again in the top three positions, while…

Romania: New EC counseling tool

Romania: New EC counseling tool

In Romania, MagnaPharm has translated and adapted the EC Wheel to help strengthen pharmacists’ knowledge on EC methods and counseling. The EC Wheel was developed in 2016 by ECEC with financial and technical support from the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Healthcare (ESC). This tool summarizes the UK Faculty of SRH and WHO’s recommendations…