The morning after pill will not require a doctor’s prescription and will be available over the counter, the Medicines Authority says.

Earlier this month, a joint parliamentary committee had recommended that the pill should be given only against a doctor’s prescription.

The decision comes after some 300 people held a protest march in Valletta specifically demanding that the pill is made available over the counter.

Simon Busuttil welcomes MAP decision

Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil welcomed the conclusion reached by the Medicines Authority and praised the NGOs that worked to make it possible. 

"I welcome the decision taken by the Medicines Authority and must praise the NGOs for their work, in particular the women involved that acted as agents of change," he said in a statement.

Simon Busuttil has already noted that after the Parliamentary Committee achieved consensus on the fact that the MAP should be available, the decision on whether its available over the counter lies with the Medicines Authority.