§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make emergency contraception more widely available in the United Kingdom. [43702]
§ Ms JowellAs a prescription only medicine under United Kingdom and European Community legislation, the emergency contraceptive pill is currently available from general practitioners, family planning clinics, some accident and emergency units and many genito-urinary clinics. Currently no applications have been received to reclassify the product to allow wider availability.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of emergency contraception on the National Health Service in each of the last five years. [43489]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 10 June 1998]: The information is not available in the form requested.
The number of National Health Service prescriptions for hormonal emergency contraception dispensed in England, and the cost of those drugs (excluding dispensing costs and fees), for the past five years is:
Year Prescription items Net ingredient costs(£) 1993 313,300 450,800 1994 363,800 520,800 1995 475,400 678,500 1996 565,600 900,200 1997 552,800 897,700 Excluded from these figures are occasions on which post-coital contraception was obtained via a family planning clinic service. These are (corresponding costs are not held):
Year Prescription items 1992–93 68,600 1993–94 82,800 1994–95 102,200 1995–96 145,300 1996–97 174,900 In addition, intrauterine devices may be used as a form of post-coital contraceptive. Comprehensive figures for their use or costs are not held centrally.