Society welcomes research findings on EHC availability
Research indicating that the availability of emergency
hormonal contraception (EHC) from pharmacies without prescription has not encouraged unsafe sex has been welcomed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
The study, by researchers from Imperial College London and the Office
for National Statistics, found that the wider availability of EHC has
not affected the proportion of women using it or the proportion having
unprotected sex. What it has changed is the pattern of supply, with nearly
a third of women who use EHC now obtaining it from pharmacies, whereas
previously about two-thirds would consult a GP and one-third would visit
a family planning clinic (PJ, 9 July, p41).
The Society’s Director of Practice and Quality Improvement, David
Pruce, said: “Evidence has shown that women can access EHC easily,
safely and effectively from pharmacies maximising the effectiveness of
emergency contraception services and helping to prevent, unwanted pregnancies,
a move which the Society has campaigned in favour of from the very beginning.
“We recognise that cost has been highlighted as an issue and are
pleased that there are a number of successful schemes where EHC can be
supplied
through patient group directions to address this.”
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal