- We have prepared a solution that is not perfect, but the only one possible and legal, at least until we elect a president who respects women's rights," said Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna at a press conference on Thursday, where she presented details of a solution that will ensure the availability of emergency contraception after the presidential veto. According to the announcement, it is to involve a pharmaceutical prescription.
Plan B on the morning-after pill. The health minister outlined the details
Published April 5, 2024 08:59
fot. Piotr Wójcik
- The proposed regulation not only facilitates access to emergency contraception, but is also an educational program. It is a safe pill from a medical point of view and acceptable from an ethical point of view," said Izabela Leszczyna.
In practice, the morning-after pill containing ulipristal acetate will be able to be issued on the basis of a pharmaceutical prescription at pharmacies that join the pilot program. The dispensing of the preparation will be preceded by an interview with educational elements. The drug will not be available more often than once every 30 days, and the prescription will be issued by a master's degree in pharmacy with at least one year of experience.
Participation of pharmacies in the program is to be free of charge, and the pilot will last until 2026, the presidential election.
- President Andrzej Duda has shown himself to be an opponent of preventing unwanted pregnancies. It is hard to believe his motivation underlying the veto. It doesn't stand up to a clash with logic, because in order for it to make sense, the president should have prepared a law banning sexual intercourse until the age of 18, the health minister said.
As Prof. Miroslaw Wielgos, national consultant in perinatology, stressed, emergency contraception is an important part of preventing unwanted pregnancy. However, it in no way replaces regular contraception or sexual education.
The service of issuing a prescription for emergency contraception will be contracted by the National Health Service and priced at PLN 50. As Izabela Leszczyna informed, underage patients will not have to come for the medicine with a parent or guardian. The list of pharmacies participating in the pilot will be made available on the NFZ website. Information about them will also be available on a hotline.
The draft regulation was published on April 3 on the website of the Government Legislation Center. It provides 10 days for departmental agreements and 14 days for public consultations. The regulation is scheduled to come into force on May 1, 2024.
