England To Offer Nonprescription Oral Contraception Under Pilot Programs In London Area

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 12 Dec 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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England plans to launch two pilot programs in the London area that will provide women with nonprescription access to birth control pills, the PA/Google.com reports. The pilot programs will begin next year in the Lambeth and Southwark primary care regions of England's National Health Service, and the results will be used to determine whether the program should be expanded across England. Under the program, women seeking nonprescription oral contraception will undergo an interview with a qualified pharmacist. Strategic health authorities -- which manage local health services under NHS -- will be required to provide pharmacists with sets of instructions known as patient group directions, including special directions for girls younger than age 16, the PA/Google.com reports. According to the PA/Google.com, patient group directions are required by law to dispense medications without a doctor's prescription and currently are used for administration of emergency contraception. The directions for dispensing EC to girls younger than 16 include a mental health assessment.

A Department of Health spokesperson said that the department wants "to improve women's access to contraception and help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies without undermining patient safety" and that the pilot programs will "help to show whether supplying contraception through pharmacies is effective in reducing unintended pregnancies." The spokesperson added, "We will be receiving quarterly updates from [strategic health authorities] on improving access to contraceptive services and will be working with them to assess the success of the schemes in their areas." She said that women who receive contraception from a pharmacy without a prescription "can still expect a full consultation with a health professional such as a pharmacist or a nurse" (Kirby, PA/Google.com, 12/9).

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