The following essay is covered in The Conversation, an online publication.
The FDA is expected to make a decision on the first over-the-counter contraceptive in the first half of 2023.
The practice of individuals looking after their own health using the knowledge and information available to them is what self-care is.
In most U.S. states, a pharmacy can prescribe contraceptives that require a prescription. The process begins with a consultation with a pharmacy to determine eligibility, collect a medical history and measure blood pressure. If the patient qualifies, the pharmacy can give a prescription to the patient, but if not, the pharmacy will refer the patient to a doctor.
The FDA's approval of an over-the-counter birth control pill will make it easier for people to use contraceptives in all 50 states. A non-estrogen, progestin-only contraceptive could be available over the counter by 2023.
We are public health experts and a pharmacy. The move toward over-the-counter birth control is an important step towards equitable reproductive health care for all Americans, and the role of the pharmacy will be crucial in that effort.
The FDA will make a decision on the application in November 2022,
The pharmacy is the most accessible part of the health care workforce. The vast majority of Americans live within 5 miles of a pharmacy. Pharmacy provided testing, vaccine and treatment for millions of people in the U.S., proving their worth in supporting and sustaining initiatives that are important to public health
Hormonal contraception, also known as birth control, can be accessed after a comprehensive medical evaluation by a doctor.
In 2016 California and Oregon became the first states to allow a pharmacy to prescribe contraceptives. It was expanded to 20 states plus Washington, D.C., which now allows pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives, including the pill, patch, ring or shot.
The move toward nonprescription-based, over-the-counter birth control will make birth control easier to use. The inability to pay for medical office visits required to obtain a prescription, lack of insurance to cover the cost of prescription birth control or lack of accessibility to pharmacy-prescribed contraception are some of the barriers.
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It is possible to reduce access barriers by using over-the-counter birth control, such as preventing the need for a scheduled appointment with a primary care physician during work hours or the need to travel long distances.
Over-the-counter access to contraceptives doesn't replace regular office visits or discussion about reproductive health with doctors.
The use of contraceptives was not allowed in the U.S. until the 1960s.
Patients in states where pharmacists are allowed to prescribe birth control may still face obstacles.
If state policies don't create pathways to reimburse pharmacists for their time to counsel and prescribe, they might not participate. A pharmacy's hours may be advertised as open, but they may not be.
The morning-after pill, also known as the contraceptive pill, and prescriptions for medication abortion are both denied by pharmacists on the basis of moral, ethical and religious beliefs.
Emergency contraception was denied to a patient by a pharmacy in Minnesota. The patient had to drive 50 miles to get the medication. A jury found that the pharmacy did not discriminate against the woman by not filling her prescription.
According to this precedent, if you object to the use of reproductive medications, you may choose not to prescribe contraceptives even if you are allowed to do so by state law. When over-the-counter birth control becomes available, they might not sell it.
Many states give the pharmacist the ability to make their own decisions. 13 states have laws or regulations that allow a pharmacy to refuse to fill a prescription if it conflicts with their religious or moral beliefs.
A system to ensure patient access to medications without compromising the pharmacist's right of refusal is supported by the American pharmacists association. In other words, the pharmacy should not step in the way of selling or distributing drugs that conflict with their personal beliefs.
Some states have conscience clauses that make it illegal for a pharmacy to refuse to give a medication to a patient for moral or ethical reasons. In addition, company policies may require pharmacists with objections to arrange for someone else to provide care for a patient. The American Pharmacists Association suggests that some states don't need a system to make sure patients get access.
Legislation that seeks to reduce abortion access in the U.S. increases the importance of contraceptive access for patients. There are areas with low access to family planning resources that are home to people of low socio-economic status. In areas with access to community pharmacies that carry hormonal birth control, contraceptives could be reduced or eliminated.
We believe that the safe, effective and accessible use of contraception can be contributed to by the pharmacy.
The conversation published this article. The original article is worth a read.
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