The Ministry of Health does not object to the sale of emergency contraception without a prescription
The Ministry of Health does not object to over-the-counter dispensing of emergency contraception, however, with clear restrictions on the age of the patients, the department said. “We have already turned to a number of manufacturers – both original emergency contraception drugs and generics – with a request to consider the possibility of their re-registration in Ukraine as over-the-counter drugs,” the Ministry of Health says. The department emphasizes that according to preliminary information, one of the manufacturers of original drugs is already considering the possibility of submitting documents for re-registration of the drug. “Preliminarily, if the manufacturers submit all the necessary documents, the procedure for re-registration of each drug will last about a month,” the ministry notes. Medicines based on levonorgestrel are available without a prescription in 23 EU countries. The Ministry of Health says that a woman has the right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, especially when it comes to cases of sexual violence. However, they note that all emergency contraceptives are hormonal, and therefore “can have a serious impact on a woman’s health and further well-being.” Read also: Postinor, Nimesil, alcohol. What medicines will be available for prescription from April 1 and should you worry? That is why emergency contraceptives are currently sold in Ukraine by prescription according to the decision of their manufacturer. The Ministry of Health explains that emergency contraceptives usually have 2 active substances: levonorgestrel; ulipristal acetate. Medicines based on levonorgestrel are available without a prescription in 23 EU countries. However, at the same time, in a number of countries, they are prescribed. “Even in Hungary, where the headquarters of the manufacturer of the original drug is located, it is a prescription,” says the Ministry of Health. Medicines based on ulipristal acetate are available without a prescription in most countries of the European Union. In Ukraine, the original drug is not registered, but generics (a drug that contains an active substance identical to the one patented by the original manufacturer) are available and can be dispensed with a prescription. It will be recalled that in April 2023, a discussion began in society regarding the feasibility of prescriptions for anti-inflammatory drugs and hormonal contraceptives. In particular, it was about the prescription drug Postinor (levonorgestrel), which is taken for emergency contraception within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse or if the contraceptive method used was unreliable. In May 2023, the Ministry of Health said that “Postinor” will not be excluded from the list of prescription drugs. Read also: Why a prescription for emergency contraception in Ukraine is not a problem. Doctor’s experience
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