Poland: Difference between revisions

 

Currently, emergency contraception (the morning after pill) is available in Poland without a prescription (if you're over 15 years old). This will change in August 2017, when it will become prescription-only, including for rape survivors.<ref>[https://mic.com/articles/180798/poland-makes-emergency-contraception-a-prescription-only-drug-even-for-rape-survivors#.1SugsYKqY Poland makes emergency contraception a prescription-only drug — even for rape survivors]</ref> The background behind the law change is as follows: The Law and Justice Party (PiS) has wanted to make emergency contraception only available by prescription. This goes against how it's currently accessed in most European countries (i.e. no prescription needed) and it goes against the recommendations of the European Medicines Agency, which states that EC can be used safely and effectively without a prescription. However, the Polish Roman Catholic Church strongly condemns the use of morning after pill. Furthermore, in 2015, Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin stated that morning after pills amount to "express abortion."<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-contraception-idUSKCN0WQ1U1 Poland to ban prescription-free emergency contraception]</ref> In June 2017, the Polish President approved a law to make emergency contraception only available by prescription.<ref>[https://mic.com/articles/180798/poland-makes-emergency-contraception-a-prescription-only-drug-even-for-rape-survivors#.1SugsYKqY Poland makes emergency contraception a prescription-only drug — even for rape survivors]</ref>