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WORK is underway to consider whether the morning-after pill could be made available free of charge or at a lower cost from pharmacies in Jersey. It comes after the emergency contraceptive was last week made available for free at all pharmacies across England through the NHS. National clinical director in women’s health Dr Sue Mann described the move as “one of the biggest changes to sexual health services since the 1960s” and a “game-changer in making reproductive healthcare more easily accessible”. Following queries from the JEP, Assistant Health Minister Andy Howell said work was under way to review access to all forms of contraception in Jersey. She explained:“It is my intention to continue working with the Social Security Minister and her team to consider whether, in future, the morning-after pill may be available free of charge or at a lower cost from pharmacies in Jersey. “This forms part of the work we are currently undertaking to review access to all forms of contraception.” Birth control was one of three “areas of concern” the government pledged to focus on when plans to scrap the stand-alone women’s health strategy were revealed last year. Islanders can currently buy the morning-after pill over the counter at local pharmacies for between £20 and £35. The morning-after pill is currently free for those aged under 18, or those who are full-time students, from their GPs, for islanders aged 20 or under from Brook, and for those aged 23 or under from the contraception clinic at Le Bas. Islanders on income support can also access the emergency contraception from their GP during a £10 appointment.
