The NHS has launched a new service offering free emergency contraception at nearly 10,000 pharmacies across England, eliminating the need for women to visit a GP or sexual health clinic. Previously, some pharmacies charged up to £30 for the oral emergency contraceptive pill.
Dr Sue Mann, NHS national clinical director for women's health, described the expansion as 'one of the biggest changes to sexual health services since the 1960s' and a 'gamechanger in making reproductive healthcare more easily accessible for women'. She noted that four in five people live within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy.
The move aims to address a 'postcode lottery' in access to free emergency contraception, with local arrangements previously only existing in certain parts of the country. Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, welcomed the national commissioning but stressed the need for sustainable funding for pharmacies.
Care Minister Stephen Kinnock called the service 'a major step forward that removes barriers of access to reproductive care that have let women down for too long'. The announcement coincides with a new NHS service offering advice on antidepressants at pharmacies.
