Pills now available over the counter at pharmacies in selected areas
TORONTO, September 26, 2001 (LSN.ca) – A pilot study allowing distribution of the abortifacient morning-after-pill direct from pharmacists is underway in 33 pharmacies in the Toronto areas of Rexdale, Scarborough and parts of North York. The Financial Post reported Monday that more than 1000 doses of the abortifacients have been doled out since the June launch of the study.
The Post notes that pharmacists receive training to screen women for the drugs. Women accessing the drugs remain anonymous and are asked to fill out forms which are then sent to a collaborating physician who supplies authorization. “The whole procedure takes less than 20 minutes,” says Anna Pancham, a researcher with Planned Parenthood of Toronto and co-ordinator for the pilot. Pancham said the selection of the 33 pharmacies and the other 12 still to join the project after training, is based on areas believed to have high rates of sexually transmitted diseases and abortions.
The Post reports that the pilot, which runs till 2003, is funded by the Ontario Women’s Health Council, established by the ministry of health three years ago.
For more see the Post’s coverage: https://www.nationalpost.com/search/story.html?f=/stories/20010922/699985.html&qs=abortion