England: EC pills to be free directly from pharmacies

ByCristina Puig

April 2025. Health authorities in England announced that emergency contraceptive (EC) pills will be available for free from pharmacies. Currently EC pills are provided for free in National Health Service (NHS) units. However, when procured directly from the pharmacy, the price of EC pills may vary extensively from one pharmacy, neighborhood or town, to another, creating significant disparities.

According the BBC, health authorities acknowledged that “women across England face an unfair postcode lottery when seeking EC, with access varying dramatically depending on where they live.” With this measure, the English government seeks to make access “to safe and effective contraception equal in all the territory”, and considers this measure “crucial to women’s healthcare and a cornerstone of a fair society”.

Only 10 years ago, England was one of the countries with higher prices for EC pills in Europe. With the introduction of this policy, England will join Belgium, British Columbia (Canada), France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Scotland and Wales in overcoming the cost barrier at the most frequent point of access: the pharmacy. On the other hand, England remains one of the very few countries in Europe, where the pharmacist consultation is mandatory and paid for.

Read more on Thepharmacist.co.uk.

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