The Morning After Pill (MAP) is available in certain pharmacies as from today, and can be ordered upon request. Neofarma Malta, the only pharmaceutical company able to distribute the drug currently, is delivering the emergency contraception to its respective pharmacies.
A spokesperson for the company said that should a person order the emergency contraception today in a pharmacy, the company can deliver it by tomorrow latest.
In comments to The Malta Independent, Civil Liberties and Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli (below) said:
“Emergency contraception is now available as a non prescription medicine from local pharmacies. I am positive that the local pharmacists who are well versed in advising our patients on the use of medicines will contribute towards providing an informative service to customers in need of emergency contraception.
“This will ensure that we now have available a product that satisfies the requirements for quality, safety and efficacy. I understand that a substantial number of pharmacies are now stocking the emergency contraception, assuring a timely and effective accessibility to the medicine.”
The issue was first sparked by the Women’s Rights Foundation. A group of 102 women had filed a judicial protest to call on the government to change its position on emergency contraception, as this infringes on women’s fundamental rights and the ability to properly plan the quantity, spacing and timing of when she decides to have children. The protest was filed against both the Health Ministry and the Civil Liberties Ministry, in view of their claim that fundamental human rights have been breached.
This led to a parliamentary committee debating the issue, where MPs from both sides of the political divide concluding that the Medicines’ Authority should ultimately decide whether the pill can be licensed and distributed in Malta. The committee had recommended that it should only be made available via a doctors’ prescription.
This sparked outrage from a number of women’s rights groups, members of civil society, as well as the civil liberties ministry. The Medicines’ Authority ultimately concluded that the pill should be made available over the counter, following a consultation with a pharmacist – in line with the majority of EU member states. This decision was opposed by government whip Godfrey Farrugia, Gift of Life and other pro-life groups.
One bone of contention for those in favour of the emergency contraception is that pharmacists have a right to conscientious objection based on their personal beliefs.
A spokesman from the Social Dialogue and Civil Liberties Ministry confirmed that pharmacists will have the right to refuse to sell the MAP on the grounds of conscience but they do, however, have an obligation to refer a customer to another pharmacist/pharmacy where the pill is available.