Emergency contraceptive availability by country
The following is a list of countries that allow access to dedicated-purpose emergency contraceptive pills.
Europe
Cyprus
In Cyprus EC (Levonorgestrel 1.5mg - Norlevo 1 dose) is available over-the-counter without prescription in pharmacies.
Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic Postinor-2 is available by doctor's prescription.
Estonia
In Estonia it is available over the counter without prescription under the name Postinor-2.
Finland
The Yuzpe regimen was introduced under the name Neoprimavlar in 1987.
In 2002 levonorgestrel-only EC (NorLevo 750 µg) became available over-the-counter in pharmacies. Only restrictions are that it cannot be administered to under 15 year-olds and only single package can be purchased at a time.[1]
Recently NorLevo 750 µg as a two-dose package has stepped aside from the NorLevo 1,5 mg single-dose package.
France
NorLevo, a two-dose progestin-only treatment, was approved in 1999, with nonprescription, pharmacy access. (France does not have an over-the-counter status equivalent.) In December 2000, public and parochial high school nurses were authorized to dispense EC. [2]
Germany
In Germany, EC is available by prescription only. There are Levonorgestrel and Ulipristal pills available.
Greece
In Greece EC (Levonorgestrel 1.5mg - Norlevo 1 dose) is available in pharmacies and formally requires prescription, but de-facto is sold in pharmacies over-the-counter.
Hungary
In Hungary EC is available in pharmacies after a medical prescription or in hospitals.
Italy
In Italy EC is available in pharmacies and hospitals, but it requires medical prescription.
Ireland
In Ireland, doctors (general practitioners and family planning clinics) can issue prescriptions for levonorgestrel and IUDs.[3]
From 12 January, 2011, the morning after pill will become available over-the-counter without a prescription from Boots pharmacies.[4]
From 15 February, 2011, the NorLevo morning after pill became available from all pharmacies over-the-counter without prescription. It is available without consultation and there is no age restriction.
A survey in May 2011 showed that 85% of pharmacists have been asked for the morning after pill since it became available over-the-counter.[5]
Lithuania
Postinor and, since 2003, Postinor-2 are available over-the-counter without a prescription in pharmacies.
Netherlands
Since January 2005, levonorgestrel-only EC (NorLevo 1.5 mg) has been available over-the-counter without a prescription in pharmacies and drug stores.
Norway
NorLevo is available over-the-counter.
Poland
Postinor-2 and and Escapelle are available by medical prescription.
Romania
In Romania EC is available only in pharmacies and it legally requires a medical prescription,[6] but it is relatively easy to buy it without such a document.
Russia
In Russia EC formally requires prescription, but de-facto is sold in pharmacies over-the-counter.
Bulgaria
In Bulgaria levonorgestrel-only EC (Escapelle) is available over-the counter without a prescription in pharmacies.
Slovakia
In Slovakia levonorgestrel-only EC (Escapelle) is available over-the-counter without a prescription in pharmacies.
Spain
In Spain it is available without restriction, but is not available over-the counter and requires a visit to a doctor. Nevertheless, recently the Spanish Government approved a measure to make the pill available over the counter in pharmacies without prescription and with no age restrictions by August 2009.[7]
Sweden
In Sweden it is available over the counter without prescription under the names Norlevo and Postinor at Apoteket .[8] It is also provided at hospitals and clinics.[9]
United Kingdom
Since 2005, the primary EC available over the counter in pharmacies in the UK has been Levonelle One Step—a single-dose progestin-only treatment. This can be sold over the counter for personal use to anyone over 16 [10] and it is also available free of charge from health professionals to all ages.
North America
Canada
Plan B is available over-the-counter in most Canadian provinces and territories. Plan B is kept behind the counter in Saskatchewan, and is available under prescription by your pharmacist in Quebec.[11]
United States
In 1999, the progestin-only Plan B (two 750 µg levonorgestrel pills) became available with a prescription.[12] This form has been replaced by the manufacturer, Teva, with Plan B One-Step (one 1.5 mg levonorgestrel pill).[13] In 2009, a generic version of the original two-pill version of Plan B became available, called Next Choice (manufactured by Watson).[14]
Emergency contraception became available without prescription to women over 18 in 2006. As of April 2009, Plan B is available from pharmacies staffed by a licensed pharmacist to women 17 or older; women 16 and under require a prescription.[15]
South America
Brazil
Progestin-only EC pills are available for free at most public hospitals [1]
Argentina
Progestin-only EC pills are available for free at all public hospitals in Buenos Aires.[2]
Chile
Postinor-2 (a progestin-only EC) became legal in Chile in 2002 after a Supreme Court battle.[16][17] Affluent Chileans were able to purchase it on demand from private health services, but poorer Chileans served by the national health service were only given EC if they were sexual assault victims.[18] In 2006, access to EC was briefly allowed for all females 14 and over, but this was immediately blocked by a court decision.[19] Months later an Appeals Court upheld a lower court decision to allow the Ministry of Health to distribute EC to minors without parental consent.[20] In April, 2008, Chile's Constitutional Court ruled free distribution of EC illegal. Constitutional Court rulings cannot be appealed.
Ecuador
On May 23, 2005, and after a couple of years available in the market, the Constitutional Court of Ecuador suspended the inscription and the sanitary permission of Postinor-2 that led it to be provided in drug stores and hospitals.[21]
Africa
Kenya
Postinor became available in 1997. It is currently supplied by Datmas Kenya Limited,[www.datmas.com], & Target-reach solutions company limited.[www.target-reach.com]
Morocco
The emergency contraception is legal in Morocco since 2008.
South Africa
A Yuzpe product called E-Gen-C became available in 1997.
A single tablet levonorgestrel EC product, called Escapelle became available in March 2008.[22]
Zambia
Levonorgestrel-only EC called Lenor 72 was registered in 2002; in 2005 another levonorgestrel-only product called Pregnon was registered.
Egypt
Levonorgestrel-only EC is available over-the counter. One trade name is Contraplan-II.
Madagascar
Levonorgestrel-only EC is available over-the counter, though it may not be available in many pharmacies, especially outside the capital. One trade name is NorLevo.
Asia
Bangladesh
Emcon, manufactured and distributed by Renata Limited.
China
Anordrin, an estrogenic steroid of the 19-Norandrostane family, was the most frequently used EC in China in 1997.[23] Levonorgestrel EC in China is known as Yu Ting (毓婷 ; pinyin : Yùtíng) and An Ting (安婷 ; pinyin : Āntíng). In 2002, China became the first country in which mifepristone was registered for use as EC.
Japan
On December 25, 2010, Japan's Ministry of Health announced that levonorgestrel would be approved for use in the near future.[24] A product with the name Norurebo (ノルレボ) was launched on May 24 2011.[25]
India
The Indian Medical Association advises that high doses of combined oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel (Yuzpe regimen) and copper releasing IUDs such as CuT 380A can be used as EC, but the Drug Controller of India has only approved (in 2001) levonorgestrel 0.75 mg. tablets for use as ECP. On August 31, 2005, nonprescription, over-the-counter access to levonorgestrel-only EC was approved.
Malaysia
Postinor was registered in 1987.
South Korea
Levonorgestrel EC in South Korea known as Norevo is available, requires prescription.
Sri Lanka
The Family Planning Association began offering the Yuzpe regimen in 1994. Postinor is readily available over-the-counter in pharmacies.
Thailand
Postinor is readily available over-the-counter in pharmacies such as Boots.
Middle East
Turkey
NorLevo is available over-the-counter in practically all Turkish pharmacies. The cost is currently (as of February 2009) 16 Turkish lira.
Israel
Postinor-2 and Postinor New are available over-the-counter in Israel.[26]
Saudi Arabia
Postinor-2 is available in Saudi Arabia.[26]
Iraq (Kurdistan)
I-Pill is available over-the-counter at most large pharmacies.
Oceania
Australia
Postinor-2 and Levonelle-2 (progestin-only EC) became available in 2002. In 2004, Postinor-2 became available without prescription.
New Zealand
Levonelle and Postinor-2 are available from pharmacies without prescription.
References
- ^ "News about the NorLevo becoming prescription-free". Finnish National Agency for Medicines. 2002. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Emergency contraception: Steps being taken to improve access". Guttmacher Institute. 2002. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Emergency Contraception "Think Contraception", Crisis Pregnancy Agency, Irish Government
- ^ BreakingNews.ie - Boots to offer morning-after pill without prescription (10 January 2011)
- ^ RTÉ News - Most pharmacists asked for morning-after pill
- ^ "Contracepţia de urgenţă". www.femeia.ro. Archived from the original on 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2007-06-08.
- ^ La píldora poscoital ya es libre. Y no es aborto
- ^ "Akut-p-piller". sjukvardsradgivningen.se (in Swedish). 2006-10-25. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Akut-p-piller" (in Swedish). Skåne Regional Council. 2006-06-12. Retrieved 2009-02-10. [dead link]
- ^ "Contraception: past, present and future". UK Family Planning Association. 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-09-28. Retrieved 2006-11-09.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Plan B Canada (??). "plan B - The Morning After Pill". Retrieved 2010-01-08.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|year=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ FDA (1999). "Plan B approval package". Archived from the original on 2006-10-11. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (2009). "Choosing a Birth Control Method: emergency contraception". Retrieved 2009-11-21.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Princeton University (2009). "Emergency Contraception: Next Choice". Retrieved 2009-11-21.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ FDA (2009). "Plan B information page". Retrieved 2009-05-15.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Chile bans morning-after pill". BBC News. 2001-08-30. Retrieved 2006-11-17.
- ^ Eduardo Gallardo (2006-09-26). "Morning-After Pill Causes Furor in Chile". Washington Post. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
- ^ "A difficult pill to swallow". Economist. September 14, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-17.
- ^ Daniela Estrada (September 13, 2006). "Court Stops Free Distribution of "Morning After Pill"". IPS. Retrieved 2006-11-17.
- ^ "Chile Court Okays Morning-After Pill". The Santiago Times. 2006-11-13. Retrieved 2006-11-17.
- ^ "Constitutional Court suspends sale of 'morning-after pills'". El Comercio. May 26, 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
- ^ http://www.mymorningafter.co.za/home.asp
- ^ Xiao B (1997). "Abortion and emergency contraception: the Chinese experience". Chin Med J. 110 (1): 36–42. PMID 9594319.
- ^ http://www.asahi.com/national/update/1224/TKY201012240523.html
- ^ http://medical.nikkeibp.co.jp/leaf/all/series/drug/update/201105/519903.html
- ^ a b http://ec.princeton.edu/questions/dedicated.html