The following is a list of countries that allow access to dedicated-purpose emergency contraceptive pills.
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In Estonia it is available over the counter without prescription under the name Postinor-2
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.
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]
In Italy EC is available in pharmacies and hospitals, but it requires medical prescription.
In Ireland, doctors (general practitioners and family planning clinics) can issue prescriptions for levonorgestrel and IUDs.[3]
Since January 2005, levonorgestrel-only EC (NorLevo 1.5 mg) has been available over-the-counter without a prescription in pharmacies and drug stores.
NorLevo is available over-the-counter.
In Romania EC is available only in pharmacies and it legally requires a medical prescription,[4] but it is relatively easy to buy it without such a document.
In Russia EC formally requires prescription, but de-facto is sold in pharmacies over-the-counter.
In Bulgaria levonorgestrel-only EC (Escapelle) is available over-the counter without a prescription in pharmacies.
In Slovakia lenorvogestel-only EC (Escapelle) is available over-the-counter without a prescription in pharmacies.
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.[5]
In Sweden it is available over the counter without prescription under the names Norlevo and Postinor at Apoteket .[6] It is also provided at hospitals and clinics.[7]
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, available to over the counter to anyone over 16 [8] and available from health professionals to all ages.
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.[9]
In 1999, the progestin-only Plan B (two 750 µg levonorgestrel pills) became available with a prescription.[10]. This form has been replaced by the manufacturer, Teva, with Plan B One-Step (one 1.5 mg levonorgestrel pill).[11] In 2009, a generic version of the original two-pill version of Plan B became available, called Next Choice (manufactured by Watson).[12]
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.[13]
Progestin-only EC pills are available for free at all public hospitals in Buenos Aires.[1]
Postinor-2 (a progestin-only EC) became legal in Chile in 2002 after a Supreme Court battle.[14][15] 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.[16] In 2006, access to EC was briefly allowed for all females 14 and over, but this was immediately blocked by a court decision.[17] Months later an Appeals Court upheld a lower court decision to allow the Ministry of Health to distribute EC to minors without parental consent.[18]. In April, 2008, Chile's Constitutional Court ruled free distribution of EC illegal. Constitutional Court rulings cannot be appealed.
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.[19]
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]
The emergency contraception is legal in Morocco since 2008 thanks to the new secretary of health, Yasmina Baddou.
A Yuzpe product called E-Gen-C became available in 1997.
A single tablet levonorgestrel EC product, called Escapelle became available in March 2008.[20]
Levonorgestrel-only EC called Lenor 72 was registered in 2002; in 2005 another levonorgestrel-only product called Pregnon was registered.
Levonorgestrel-only EC is available over-the counter. One trade name is Contraplan-II.
Anordrin, an estrogenic steroid of the 19-Norandrostane family, was the most frequently used EC in China in 1997.[21] Levonorgestrel EC in China is known as Yu-Ting and An Ting. In 2002, China became the first country in which mifepristone was registered for use as EC.
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.
Postinor was registered in 1987.
The Family Planning Association began offering the Yuzpe regimen in 1994.
Postinor is readily available over-the-counter in pharmacies such as Boots.
NorLevo is available over-the-counter in practically all Turkish pharmacies. The cost is currently (as of February 2009) 16 Turkish lira.
Postinor-2 and Postinor New are available over-the-counter in Israel.[22]
Postinor-2 is available in Saudi Arabia.[23]
Postinor-2 and Levonelle-2 (progestin-only EC) became available in 2002. In 2004, Postinor-2 became available without prescription.
Levonelle and Postinor-2 are available from pharmacies without prescription.
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| | Chile Court Okays Morning-After Pill - The Chiron Group | Web Site Design + SEO + SEM |
| | Morning-After Pill Causes Furor in Chile - Morning-After Pill Causes Furor in Chile - washingtonpost.com |
| | Emergency contraception: Steps being taken to improve access - Emergency Contraception: Steps Being Taken to Improve Access |
| | Health Canada Approves Emergency Contraceptive Plan B as OTC Drug - Health Canada Approves Emergency Contraceptive Plan B as OTC Drug |
| | Emergency Contraception - Family Planning NSW: Sex Matters: Factsheets: Emergency Contraception |
| | Chile bans morning-after pill - BBC News | AMERICAS | Chile bans morning-after pill |
| | News about the NorLevo becoming prescription-free - Lääkelaitos - Uutiset |
| | Barr Launches Plan B® OTC/Rx Dual-Label Product; Awarded 3 Years New Product Exclusivity - Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. News Release |
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