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THE morning-after pill is set to be made free in pharmacies in England to end an “unfair postcode lottery.”
Emergency contraception is free from most GPs and sexual health clinics, but pharmacies can charge up to £30.
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock told the BBC: “Women across England face an unfair postcode lottery when seeking emergency contraception, with access varying dramatically depending on where they live.”
He said the plan would make sure “women can access this essential healthcare when they need it, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay.”
Nick Kaye, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “For too long, access to free services has been a postcode lottery for patients, with local arrangements only existing in certain parts of the country and often being underfunded.
“Pharmacies are under enormous pressure amid the impact of record cuts to their budgets, so it is important any scheme fully reimburses them for this work.”
