Japan has approved the over-the-counter sale of an emergency contraceptive pill for the first time, enabling women to access the medication without a prescription, according to its manufacturer, ASKA Pharmaceutical. A specific date for availability has not yet been announced.
The emergency contraceptive, marketed under the name Norlevo, will be categorized as “medicine requiring guidance.” This means that while women can purchase it without a prescription, they must take it in the presence of a pharmacist. Notably, there will be no age restrictions or parental consent requirements for buyers.
ASKA Pharmaceutical stated that it received marketing authorization for this switch to over-the-counter use after conducting prescription-free trial sales in 2023. These trials involved making Norlevo accessible at 145 pharmacies, marking a shift from previous policies that required a doctor’s examination and prescription for access. Ahead of this approval, rights groups had criticized the limited nature of the trials, arguing that the prescription requirement was a barrier for younger women and victims of sexual assault seeking emergency contraception.
Discussions around making the pill available without a prescription began in 2017, during a health ministry panel. Notably, a public consultation revealed significant support for this change; however, officials had previously expressed concerns that easier access might lead to irresponsible usage of the pill.
Norlevo, along with its generic counterpart levonorgestrel, is most effective when taken within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse and has an efficacy rate of around 80%. The decision to approve over-the-counter sales could potentially shift the landscape of reproductive health access in Japan, where views on reproductive issues have traditionally been conservative.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gwxkdkyn0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss