GOVERNOR LYNCH SIGNS EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION PHARMACY ACCESS BILL INTO LAW
Concord – Today, Governor Lynch signed into law legislation to allow pharmacy access for Emergency Contraception (EC). The bill, approved by both the NH House and Senate, will allow trained pharmacists to work with health care providers to dispense Emergency Contraception directly from the pharmacy without a prior office visit. Participation in the program is voluntary. New Hampshire will now become the 7th state in the nation to pass pharmacy access for EC legislation. Health care providers have used Emergency Contraception, also known as the Morning After Pill, since the 1970’s to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex, contraceptive failure, or sexual assault. EC does not cause abortion and should not be confused with RU-486, or the abortion pill. The FDA approved the drug for use by all women in the 1990’s and is currently considering allowing the drug to be sold over the counter. Liza Dube, Political Director for NARAL Pro-Choice NH, cheered the passage of the bill, “We understand that the key to reducing unintended pregnancies and abortion begins with better access to contraception. This is an issue that brought people from both sides of the abortion debate together to accomplish a shared goal.” “We’re looking forward to the next steps, training pharmacists and providers, educating women about the pharmacy access option, and continuing the work of expanding access to reproductive heath care for New Hampshire women.” Dube concluded, “Access to reproductive health care is an issue for the women of New Hampshire. This is a very real victory for the women in our state.”
| 
