Release of the pill afterwards required

Experts recommend lifting the prescription at the „Pill afterwards“

15/01/2014

The „Pill afterwards“ - a hormonally effective medicine that can be prescribed to women to protect themselves from unintentional pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse. Experts have long been recommending exempting the product from prescription because there are no medical arguments against approval, according to the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices following a meeting of the Prescription Committee on Tuesday against the news agency „dpa“.

Ingredient Levonorgestrel protects against unwanted pregnancy
Women who have had intercourse without contraception and subsequently fear a pregnancy, have so far been treated by their gynecologist „Pill afterwards“ be prescribed. It is a hormonally active drug, which by the active ingredients „levonorgestrel“ or „ulipristal“ Prevent pregnancy - provided that the egg has not yet lodged in the uterus. Therefore, there is not much time to take it, at least 72 hours („levonorgestrel“) or 120 hours („ulipristal“) after sexual intercourse, this must be done.

„No medical arguments against dismissal from the prescription requirement“
Now experts are again calling for the repeal of the prescription of the contraceptive product. Like the news agency „dpa“ reported, the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices following a meeting of the Committee of Experts on prescription on Tuesday in Bonn communicated, „There are no medical arguments that speak against compulsory dismissal from prescription.“ Previously, the General Meeting of the German Pharmacists' Day in September 2013 had decided a corresponding application for the repeal of the prescription requirement, also the Federal Council had, according to data of the Federal Association of German Pharmacist Associations (ABDA) in November last year for it pronounced.

CDU against release
But in the end, politics will decide. Therefore, it remains to be seen how Federal Health Minister Hermann Gröhe (CDU) deals with this recommendation, which is now forwarded to the Ministry - because for the CDU in particular was a freely accessible „Pill afterwards“ so far no topic. For example, the Bavarian Minister of Health Melanie Huml (CSU) expressed her intention, Hermann Gröhe „their concerns“ in view of a release, so the „dpa“ continue. Support of the release plan, however, comes from the ranks of the Greens: So the end of the recipe requirement in the „Pill afterwards“ in the opinion of North Rhine-Westphalian Minister of Health Barbara Steffens (Greens) „overdue“. The free access in many other countries has shown that this is easily possible, so there would be no comprehensible reasons why this would not be the case in this country, the politician told the dpa.

Pharmacists demand quick implementation of the recommendation
As the Federal Association of German Pharmacist Associations announces, the recommendation of the Committee of Experts is welcomed by the pharmacists: „The pharmacists expect this recommendation to be implemented quickly and the Drug Prescription Ordinance to be amended accordingly“, explains Dr. Andreas Kiefer, President of the Federal Chamber of Pharmacists. Because it is important because of the short time span, „that affected women have rapid and low-threshold access to this emergency contraceptive“, However, according to the Federal Association of German Pharmacist Associations, the availability must be guaranteed everywhere. „The local pharmacies with their low-threshold and nationwide night and emergency service can provide patients with short-term care, including the necessary advice. Pharmacists can ensure drug safety and take responsibility for preventing medication from being misused“, so pine continues. (No)

Picture: Martin Berk