Access to the morning-after pill in BC

The primary goal of the BC emergency postcoital contraception initiative, which was discussed in a recent CMAJ article,1 is to increase the availability of this important option for women's reproductive health. The resolution of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada calling for increased access to emergency postcoital contraception prompted the College of Pharmacists of BC to consider the situation in our province. It was clear that more work was needed to inform women about emergency postcoital contraception and to make it more accessible. Pharmacists can play a vital role in making this happen because of their knowledge of drug therapy and their availability. The threats and violence against physicians who perform abortions serve as a reminder that extreme emotions are associated with issues of reproductive choice and that much more needs to be done to prevent unintended pregnancies.

The CMAJ article states that BC will be making Preven a schedule II medication.1 The hormones for emergency contraception are classed as prescription drugs at the federal level. The provinces cannot change the classification of a drug from prescription to nonprescription by placing it in schedule II. Provincial authorities can, however, explore avenues for permitting pharmacists to dispense a prescription drug without a physician's prescription. One mechanism may be to work in collaboration with a physician. Another option is to create a pharmacists' prescribing schedule. The College of Pharmacists of BC has submitted a resolution to the provincial government calling for the creation of schedule IV. The only drugs in the schedule would be the hormones for emergency contraception. By approving schedule IV, the provincial government would grant pharmacists independent prescribing authority for these products only.