Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/695268
5 MIRIAM DALLI IS the morning-after pill really illegal? It's the question that eve- ryone keeps asking and one that the Health Promotion and Dis- ease Prevention Directorate has now apparently decided on. In the latest update of its sexual health webpage, the directorate has forfeited its previous use of the word "illegal" to describe emergency contraception. The move came on the day that An- thony Serracino Inglott, chair- man of the Medicines Authority, told the state broadcaster that the morning-after pill is not an abortifacient. In less than a week, the govern- ment-administered sexual health webpage on emergency contra- ception underwent at least three changes. In a panicked reaction follow- ing the presentation of a judicial protest by the Women's Rights Foundation, the directorate moved quickly to dub the morn- ing-after pill "illegal". The move, however, resulted in the removal of all information on the page, leaving nothing but the sentence: "Emergency contraception is not available in Malta as it is unli- censed and illegal." The Women's Rights Founda- tion – who are pushing for the li- censing of the morning-after pill – promptly took to social media to question what had prompted the page update. Within min- utes, the webpage was restored to its original version. Refer- ence to the pill's alleged illegal- ity was retained at the top spot, while references to the Catholic Church's position on the matter were removed. But at the start of a new week, the webpage was once again ed- ited, removing the top reference to its illegality. According to sexualhealth.gov. mt, emergency contraceptive drugs, irrespective of type, are not licensed in Malta, and there- fore cannot be purchased from Maltese pharmacies. The EU's Directive on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use allows each member state to retain sovereignty over licens- ing of contraceptives and abor- tifacients. Article 4 states that: "this Directive shall not affect the application of national legis- lation prohibiting or restricting the sale, supply or use of medici- nal products as contraceptives or abortifacients. The Member States shall communicate the national legislation concerned to the Commission." On emergency contraception, the World Health Organisation says that "emergency contracep- tion is effective only in the first few days following intercourse before the ovum is released from the ovary and before the sperm fertilizes the ovum. Emergency contraception cannot interrupt an established pregnancy or harm a developing embryo". On the other hand, Malta's health promotion directorate says: "The action of the hormo- nal emergency contraception will depend on when in relation to ovulation they are adminis- tered. Morning-after pills are high-dose hormonal birth con- trol pills that work by stopping or delay ova (the eggs) being released from the ovaries, in- hibiting sperm to prevent ferti- lisation, or preventing the im- plantation of a fertilized egg. "The ethical debate on this is- sue centres on whether a preg- nancy begins at fertilization or at a later stage of the reproductive cycle, such as at implantation." The WRF welcomed the latest updated version, which it said better ref lected reality. "We are however concerned that the fact that emergency con- traception is not abortifacient is not clearly stated," the founda- tion said. "That in itself would remove the need to refer to 'ethical debate' as stated on the site and at the same time provide public with more accurate information." Health Minister Chris Fearne, speaking on ONE Radio yester- day, said the government would see what the experts have to say, listen to all arguments and take a decision "which make sense, sci- entifically." maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 22 JUNE 2016 News Introduction by the Hon. Minister Dr. Helena Dalli Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties The Risk of Property Bubble in Malta Mr Chris Grech - Executive Chairman Dhalia The Construction Industry in Malta - How bright is the future? Perit David Xuereb - CEO of QP Management Ltd The Construction Sector 2015 Ms Rita Schembri - Economic Analysis Office at the Central Bank of Malta Questions from the floor Concluding Remarks by the Executive Chairman BICC, The Hon. Perit Charles Buhagiar NATIONAL CONFERENCE State of the Construction Industry in Malta The event is open to the general public but is of a special interest to architects, developers, contractors, engineers, estate agents and financial advisors Friday 24th June 2016 at Aula Magna, Old University, Valletta 17:30 - 20:00 This conference is in Maltese For further information call 2247 9300 or info.bicc@gov.mt Is morning-after pill really illegal? Even Health Department is confused The webpage underwent several changes between Friday and Monday Central Bank board to decide whether Mifsud retains deputy governorship CONTINES FROM PAGE 1 Mifsud, 65, has denied the allegations of kickbacks. "I deny ever receiving any monies from Demajo. The choice of IT system at Mid Med was carried out by technical of- ficers, and they will be testifying in court to show that what has been alleged is a lie," Mifsud said. In comments to MaltaToday, finance minister Edward Sci- cluna did not indicate who would be nominated in Mifsud's stead but said that government will be nominating "the best candidate in the circumstance" to lead the Central Bank. Asked whether Mifsud will re- tain his seat as deputy governor, Scicluna said "the advice given to us by the European Central Bank is that it should be the Cen- tral Bank of Malta board which should decide." Mifsud, a long-time Labour supporter who at one time em- ployed Joseph Muscat at Crystal Finance, claimed his former part- ner had repeatedly sent him text messages threatening him that she would ruin his chances of be- coming governor unless he pays her part of the proceeds from the sale of Allcare Insurance, one of his firms. Mifsud said in a statement on Monday that Zelbst was not mo- tivated by "any heroic act to sacri- fice herself in order to expose my alleged wrongdoing", saying that were it so she would have made her accusations in 2015 when he was made deputy governor. "But at the time I was financ- ing her daughter's grand wed- ding and her expensive jewellery for the event," Mifsud claimed. "Ms Zelbst is only speaking now because I did not submit to her demands as shown in the letter dated 1 May, 2016. These de- mands are unreasonable, espe- cially coming on top of my offer for her to continue living in my Sliema luxury apartment with all expenses paid and having a leased car fully paid made available to her. This, along with a monthly living allowance which between forfeited rents and recurring ex- penses amounts to more than €8,000 per month."