Agency calls for free contraceptive services

The Department of Health will consider making the morning-after pill available over the counter if the Crisis Pregnancy Agency requests it to.

The agency's director, Ms Sharon Foley, said yesterday that a "key recommendation" was that "consideration be given to the deregulation of emergency contraception". At the publication of the agency's annual report yesterday, she also called for contraceptive services to be made available free of charge.

A Department spokeswoman said: "Should the Crisis Pregnancy Agency make a formal request to the Department in relation to making this product available in certain circumstances without requiring a medical prescription, that is a matter that would be considered by the Department in consultation with the Irish Medicines Board and with other interested parties."

The morning-after pill, which can be taken up to 72 hours after sex, is available on prescription only. The agency says this renders it almost unavailable at weekends when demand, especially among young people, is highest.

An agency spokeswoman said making a formal request to the Department, and to manufacturers also to seek its deregulation, would be considered. The Irish Medicines Board regulates the availability of drugs but does not have a role in initiating the deregulation of medicines.

"Applications for deregulation of medicinal products are assessed on a case-by-case basis following a simultaneous application by the company concerned to the Department of Health and the IMB," a spokeswoman said.

She also said the IMB would recommend that those needing emergency contraception should seek advice from a medical practitioner, who could determine the product's suitability for each individual patient.

At yesterday's publication the agency also highlighted key findings from research it commissioned last year. It found that one in three women who had been pregnant had experienced a crisis pregnancy. In most cases (75 per cent) the women gave birth. Some 15 per cent opted to terminate their pregnancy. One in five of all conceptions in the 18-24 age group ends in abortion.

The agency's chairwoman, Ms Olive Braiden, said the highest levels of risk-taking, unprotected sex were evident among this age group. They were least likely to use contraception consistently.

"The main reasons given for non-use in the last year by the younger people who did not want to become pregnant was that the sex was unplanned (58 per cent) or they were drinking alcohol or taking drugs," she said. Price was a big factor.

While condoms can be bought for about €2 for a packet of three, and the contraceptive pill costs €5-€11 a month, the morning-after pill costs about €50. Added to this is the cost of a medical consultation.

As well as free contraceptive services, the agency would like to see contraceptives prices lowered.