Risks of Exploitation from Over-the-Counter Contraceptive Pills Highlighted by Campaigners
All women will have the ability to obtain free contraceptive pills directly from pharmacies, without having to consult with a GP.
A family campaign group has raised concerns about the potential consequences of a plan to allow millions of women access to free over-the-counter contraceptive pills without the need for a GP consultation.
This move is aimed at providing women with more options for obtaining the pill and freeing up appointments in GP surgeries, according to the NHS.
If women choose the combined oestrogen and progestogen pill, they will need to have a check-up with a pharmacist to record their blood pressure and weight.
No checks are required for the progestogen-only mini-pill, which is the case in other settings, as stated by NHS England.
The Family Education Trust, a group focused on addressing issues affecting the family, expressed concerns about the new plan, stating that it could potentially be exploited by individuals looking to harm women and girls.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies interested in the new service will need to sign up, meaning it will not be immediately available everywhere in England.
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NHS chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, stated, “This is really good news for women—we all lead increasingly busy lives, and thanks to this action, rather than making a GP appointment, they can simply pop into their local pharmacy when they need or want to access contraception.”
She further added, “We will also be expanding services so that more health checks are available for patients on the high street, which is not only better and easier for patients but also frees up NHS time for more GP appointments for those who need them most.”
The most common type of pills are the Monophasic 21-day pills such as Microgynon and Yasmin, both manufactured by Bayer, as well as Marvelon which is produced by Organon owned by Merck.
Working on various plans and reforms to enhance its services, NHS England is making efforts to ease the burden on its system. Currently, 7.7 million people are on NHS waiting lists in England, the highest since records began in 2007.
Victims of Sexual Abuse
Lucy Marsh, communications and PR officer for the Family Education Trust, expressed concerns that the new scheme may inadvertently make it easier for women to fall victim to sexual abuse with no opportunity for doctors to identify potential red flags during a medical examination.
“We discovered that the routine prescription of the pill to girls under 16 without their parent’s knowledge or consent contributed to incidences of child sexual abuse being ignored by police and social workers for years,” she explained.
Ms. Marsh highlighted that, since 1985, under Gillick competence, the Department of Health has permitted the confidential provision of contraception to young people under the age of 16 without the consent of their parents.
“This has meant that one in 20 girls between the ages of 12-18 are now on the pill,” she added.
“This policy really must be a dream to anyone looking to exploit women and girls and we would urge the health secretary to rethink this decision,” she concluded.
PA Media contributed to this report.
