Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/697149
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 26 JUNE 2016 News Morning-after pill Equality Commission says denying pill 'discriminatory' but pharmacists say law allows them to object MIRIAM DALLI THE National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) has called for the licensing of the morning-after pill, arguing that denying women access to emer- gency contraception was discrimi- natory. The Commission's statement follows a judicial protest by 102 women who have called for the emergency contraceptive pill to be made available in Malta. "Lack of access to the morning- after pill raises an issue of dis- crimination since the unavailabil- ity of this pill penalises primarily women by denying them a phar- maceutical service that would al- low them to exert more control over their life. Emergency contra- ception is important for women to prevent unwanted pregnancies," the NCPE said in statement. The Commission went on to point out that other emergency contraception methods, such as the IUD – the coil – were already available in Malta. IUDs are how- ever costlier and less accessible compared to the morning-after pill. "Licensing the morning-after pill would enhance access to emergen- cy contraception and safeguard the rights of every woman by en- suring that goods and services of- fered on the market are available to all women," the NCPE said. Emergency contraception can prevent most pregnancies when taken after intercourse and is ef- fective only in the first few days af- ter the sexual act, before the ovum is released from the ovary and be- fore the sperm fertilizes the ovum. According to the World Health Organisation, emergency contra- ception cannot interrupt an estab- lished pregnancy or harm a devel- oping embryo. Pro-lifers and the Catholic Church are among those who op- pose the availability of the morn- ing-after pill, arguing that it is an abortifacient. But now, Archbishop Charles Scicluna has been quoted as saying that he would not find the morn- ing-after pill abortive if it works before fertilisation. According to Princeton, "there is no evidence to suggest that either of the FDA- approved emergency contracep- tive options, levonorgestrel (LNG, such as Plan B One-Step, Take Ac- tion, Next Choice One Dose or My Way) or ulipristal acetate (UPA, such as ella) works after an egg is fertilized". Whilst the chairperson of the Medicines Authority, Professor Anthony Serracino Inglott, said that the morning-after pill is not illegal, the Chamber of Pharma- cists said that pharmacists can object to dispense the pill on reli- gious grounds. "Pharmacists, as independent healthcare professionals, are guid- ed by the ethical code of the Phar- macy Council which is based on the principle of beneficence and abhors maleficence "Pharmacists may refuse to dis- pense prescriptions which would mimic the action of the MAP on the basis of conscientious objec- tion. They may do this without being judgemental and indicating another pharmacy where the cli- ent may receive the service," the Chamber said. The Chamber is also insisting they are independently empow- ered to question doctors' prescrip- tions, contradicting the claims carried in the press that medical dispensaries could not contradict prescriptions. "Pharmacists are independent healthcare professionals who have every right and responsibility to question a doctor's prescription, not only in this context, but in any other situation, and use his or her discretion on whether a pre- scription is to be dispensed or not. This is enabled by the Medicines Act and the Code of Ethics of the Pharmacy profession issued by the Pharmacy Council." Equality commissioner Renée Liaviera Pharmacists may refuse to dispense prescriptions which would mimic the action of the MAP