WOMEN will be able to get the morning-after pill free of charge in pharmacies across England from today.
Emergency contraception is free from most GPs and sexual health clinics but can cost up to £30 from pharmacies.
This may also have depended on whether your local council covers the cost.
That fee has now been scrapped for those without a doctor’s or other prescription across 10,000 community chemists.
NHS director Dr Sue Mann said: “It’s a game-changer in making reproductive healthcare more easily accessible.”
The morning after pill is a type of emergency contraception used after unprotected sex or if regular contraception fails.
It can be taken at home but must be used within three to five days, and the sooner it is taken the more effective it will be.
It works by preventing or delaying the release of an egg, and does not cause an abortion.
“Women across England face an unfair postcode lottery when seeking emergency contraception, with access varying dramatically depending on where they live,” the health minister Stephen Kinnock said.
“By making this available at community pharmacies, we will ensure all women can access this essential healthcare when they need it, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay.”
Most GP surgeries and sexual health clinics already offer it for free, but waits for an appointment can make the pill less effective.
