Dispensary Corner

NOT so long ago the very thought of contraceptives being available in an Irish pharmacy seemed farfetched, but times have changed.

The Emerald Isle may have been a late comer to the sexual revolution, but Irish pharmacists are now seeking the right to dispense oral contraceptives without a prescription and free to women.

The Irish Pharmacy Union has proposed the move following a recent public consultation aimed at improving access to contraception in the wake of the country’s referendum to repeal anti-abortion legislation.

“Not all barriers to contraception are financial, and free contraception alone may not necessarily lead to increased use,” an IPU spokesperson said.

“Financial and non-financial barriers to access are often connected; a woman who can’t afford to take time off work can’t access a free consultation with a GP, but she can often see a pharmacist in her free time.

“If the Government is sincere about improving access for all, the prescription-free element of our proposal is at least as important as the free-of-charge component.”

The Health Minister of the once conservative nation has revealed plans to distribute free condoms across university campuses in the coming months, as part of the Government’s strategy to reduce the number of crisis pregnancies and improve sexual health.