The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 264 No 7099 p843
June 3, 2000 Letters

Emergency contraception

Clarification, please

From Mr A. Tanna, FRPharmS

SIR,-A new service has been introduced recently in Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark as a part of health action zone programme for reducing unintended pregnancy and improving sexual health. This means that women seeking emergency contraception may be referred only to an accredited community pharmacist by the health authority for advice and indeed, where appropriate, supply of an emergency contraception.
I, therefore, wish to clarify the matter and put the following questions to the Professional Standards Directorate:

• 1. Is it fair to assume that the Council of the Society is in agreement with the protocol laid down by the health authority that the supply of emergency contraception can only be carried out by the community pharmacists who have been accredited by the authority?
• 2. Would the Council have any reservation and objection if the community pharmacist who has not participated in the scheme nor has been accredited by the health authority were to supply such emergency contraception under the emergency supplies conditions?

Ashwin Tanna
London SE26

Mr STEPHEN LUTENER (head of pharmacy law, Royal Pharmaceutical Society) replies: The Council of the Society has expressed its support for the involvement of pharmacists in the supply of emergency hormonal contraception. The Council has not, however, considered any protocols for supply which have been formulated by any health authority.
Provided all the criteria for an emergency supply at the request of a patient are met, the supply of any prescription only medicine under the emergency supply exemption is a matter for the pharmacist's own discretion. For that reason the Council has not considered the specific issue of how, and under what circumstances it is appropriate for a pharmacist to make an emergency supply of emergency contraception.