Church in the World

Approval for over-the-counter morning-after pill

Canada

A regulation came into force last week that gives most Canadian women full over-the-counter access to Plan B - the "morning after" or emergency contraceptive pill, writes Peter Kavanagh.

Since April 2005 the pill was only available after consultation with a pharmacist, but the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities issued the ruling on 15 May making it more freely available. Canada becomes the fifth country after Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and India to allow such access.

In the last three years, nearly 640,000 pills have been dispensed. The final decision was met with jubilation by pro-choice groups and disappointment by others, most prominently the Canadian Pharmacists' Association. In a statement the group described the decision as "not in the best interest of women".

The association's spokesperson, Jill Cooper, said most women were not well informed about the pill, and the decision "sent out a message that this is not a big deal, and it is".

The one exception to the ruling is the province of Quebec, which has its own pharmaceutical regulatory agency. Pharmacists in Quebec reacted to the ruling, saying they supported the requirement for consultation. Manon Lambert, registrar of the Quebec Order of Pharmacists, said, "It's not just another drug."

Jean Morse-Chevrier, president of the Quebec Catholic Parents' Association, said the new access to the drug will isolate teenagers from parents. "This pill leaves the child alone to deal with the problem,"  he said. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is expected to address the issue later this year.

n The Saguenay mayor, Jean Tremblay, has rejected a ruling by the Quebec Human Rights Commission that the town must cease the practice of prayer before council meetings. Two people complained to the commission.