Emergency contraceptive availability by country
Encyclopedia
The following is a list of countries that allow access to dedicated-purpose emergency contraceptive pills.
EC (Levonorgestrel 1.5mg - Norlevo 1 dose) is available over-the-counter without prescription in pharmacies.
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.
Recently NorLevo 750 µg as a two-dose package has stepped aside from the NorLevo 1,5 mg single-dose package.
EC (Levonorgestrel 1.5mg - Norlevo 1 dose) is available in pharmacies and formally requires prescription, but de-facto is sold in pharmacies over-the-counter.
EC is available in pharmacies and hospitals, but it requires medical prescription.
, doctors (general practitioner
s and family planning clinics) can issue prescriptions for levonorgestrel and IUDs.
From 12 January, 2011, the morning after pill will become available over-the-counter without a prescription from Boots
pharmacies.
From 15 February, 2011, the NorLevo morning after pill became available from all pharmacies over-the-counter without prescription. It is available without consultation and there is no age restriction.
A survey in May 2011 showed that 85% of pharmacists have been asked for the morning after pill since it became available over-the-counter.
EC is available only in pharmacies and it legally requires a medical prescription, but it is relatively easy to buy it without such a document.
EC formally requires prescription, but de-facto is sold in pharmacies over-the-counter.
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.
. It is also provided at hospitals and clinics.
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.
.http://www.buenosaires.gov.ar/areas/salud/a_primaria/programas/s_sexual/ley_448.php?menu_id=19026
It is currently supplied by Datmas Kenya Limited,[www.datmas.com], & Target-reach solutions company limited.[www.target-reach.com]
A single tablet levonorgestrel EC product, called Escapelle became available in March 2008.
: Yùtíng) and An Ting (安婷 ; pinyin
: Āntíng). In 2002, China became the first country in which mifepristone was registered for use as EC.
Postinor is readily available over-the-counter in pharmacies.
Cyprus
In CyprusCyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
EC (Levonorgestrel 1.5mg - Norlevo 1 dose) is available over-the-counter without prescription in pharmacies.
Estonia
In Estonia it is available over the counter without prescription under the name Postinor-2.Finland
The Yuzpe regimenYuzpe regimen
The Yuzpe Regimen is a method of emergency contraception using a combination of estrogen and progestogen hormones and started within 72 hours of sexual intercourse. It has been superseded by a progestogen-only hormonal regimen.-History:...
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.
Recently NorLevo 750 µg as a two-dose package has stepped aside from the NorLevo 1,5 mg single-dose package.
France
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.Germany
In Germany, EC is available by prescription only. There are Levonorgestrel and Ulipristal pills available.Greece
In GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
EC (Levonorgestrel 1.5mg - Norlevo 1 dose) is available in pharmacies and formally requires prescription, but de-facto is sold in pharmacies over-the-counter.
Italy
In ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
EC is available in pharmacies and hospitals, but it requires medical prescription.
Ireland
In IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, doctors (general practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
s and family planning clinics) can issue prescriptions for levonorgestrel and IUDs.
From 12 January, 2011, the morning after pill will become available over-the-counter without a prescription from Boots
Boots UK
Boots UK Limited , is a leading pharmacy chain in the United Kingdom, with outlets in most high streets throughout the country...
pharmacies.
From 15 February, 2011, the NorLevo morning after pill became available from all pharmacies over-the-counter without prescription. It is available without consultation and there is no age restriction.
A survey in May 2011 showed that 85% of pharmacists have been asked for the morning after pill since it became available over-the-counter.
Lithuania
Postinor and, since 2003, Postinor-2 are available over-the-counter without a prescription in pharmacies.Netherlands
Since January 2005, levonorgestrel-only EC (NorLevo 1.5 mg) has been available over-the-counter without a prescription in pharmacies and drug stores.Romania
In RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
EC is available only in pharmacies and it legally requires a medical prescription, but it is relatively easy to buy it without such a document.
Russia
In RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
EC formally requires prescription, but de-facto is sold in pharmacies over-the-counter.
Bulgaria
In Bulgaria levonorgestrel-only EC (Escapelle) is available over-the counter without a prescription in pharmacies.Slovakia
In Slovakia levonorgestrel-only EC (Escapelle) is available over-the-counter without a prescription in pharmacies.Spain
In SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
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.
Sweden
In Sweden it is available over the counter without prescription under the names Norlevo and Postinor at ApoteketApoteket
Apoteket is the national pharmaceuticals retailing former monopoly in Sweden. Apoteket AB, formerly Apoteksbolaget, is a government owned enterprise reporting to the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs....
. It is also provided at hospitals and clinics.
United Kingdom
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. This can be sold over the counter for personal use to anyone over 16 and it is also available free of charge from health professionals to all ages.Canada
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.United States
In 1999, the progestin-only Plan B (two 750 µg levonorgestrel pills) became available with a prescription. This form has been replaced by the manufacturer, Teva, with Plan B One-Step (one 1.5 mg levonorgestrel pill). In 2009, a generic version of the original two-pill version of Plan B became available, called Next Choice (manufactured by Watson).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.
Brazil
Progestin-only EC pills are available for free at most public hospitals http://www.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2005/02/307539.shtmlArgentina
Progestin-only EC pills are available for free at all public hospitals in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
.http://www.buenosaires.gov.ar/areas/salud/a_primaria/programas/s_sexual/ley_448.php?menu_id=19026
Chile
Postinor-2 (a progestin-only EC) became legal in Chile in 2002 after a Supreme Court battle. 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. In 2006, access to EC was briefly allowed for all females 14 and over, but this was immediately blocked by a court decision. Months later an Appeals Court upheld a lower court decision to allow the Ministry of Health to distribute EC to minors without parental consent. In April, 2008, Chile's Constitutional Court ruled free distribution of EC illegal. Constitutional Court rulings cannot be appealed.Ecuador
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.Kenya
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]
South Africa
A Yuzpe product called E-Gen-C became available in 1997.A single tablet levonorgestrel EC product, called Escapelle became available in March 2008.
Zambia
Levonorgestrel-only EC called Lenor 72 was registered in 2002; in 2005 another levonorgestrel-only product called Pregnon was registered.Madagascar
Levonorgestrel-only EC is available over-the counter, though it may not be available in many pharmacies, especially outside the capital. One trade name is NorLevo.Bangladesh
Emcon, manufactured and distributed by Renata Limited.China
Anordrin, an estrogenic steroid of the 19-Norandrostane family, was the most frequently used EC in China in 1997. Levonorgestrel EC in China is known as Yu Ting (毓婷 ; pinyinPinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Yùtíng) and An Ting (安婷 ; pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Āntíng). In 2002, China became the first country in which mifepristone was registered for use as EC.
Japan
On December 25, 2010, Japan's Ministry of Health announced that levonorgestrel would be approved for use in the near future. A levonorgestrel product named "Norurebo" (ノルレボ) was released on May 24, 2011.India
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.South Korea
Levonorgestrel EC in South Korea known as Norevo is available, requires prescription.Sri Lanka
The Family Planning Association began offering the Yuzpe regimen in 1994.Postinor is readily available over-the-counter in pharmacies.