Birth control pills can continue to be sold over the counter

The central government Monday said that morning after pills or emergency birth control pills will continue to be sold over the counter (OTC).

The decision to allow continuation of the OTC sale of the pills was taken at the union health ministry's drug technical advisory board meet, which was headed by the director general of health services here.

"With regard to emergency contraceptive pills, the board decided to keep the pills in the 'over the counter' category," said a statement issued after the meet Monday.

A sub-committee was also formed to study the advertisements of these pills and also to come out with guidelines about how such advertisements should be shown in the future, a health official said.

"The committee will finalise the guidelines regarding the advertising of emergency contraceptive pills with special focus on the safe use of such drugs," the statement added.

"The board members expressed concern over the type of advertisements that were being shown on television," a health ministry official said.

The sub-committee will comprise two gynaecologists, a member of Federation of Obstetric Societies of India (FOGSI), one person from the information and broadcasting ministry and a pharmacologist.

FOGSI has 21,261 Obstetricians and gynecologists as members and works for spreading awareness about various health issues.

The emergency pill ads of 'I-pill' and 'Unwanted 72' had created a stir with women organisations saying that it could corrupt youngsters. Also, demands were made to ban the advertisements that showed a harassed woman going for abortion and TV actresses planning to delay pregnancy by opting for the pill.

The advisory board also reviewed the sale of Letrozole - a medication used to treat infertile women who have an ovulation problem.

It was decided that a sub-committee, headed by a PGI-Chandigarh gynecologist, should review the matter of its sale in the market.

"The board also considered re-examination of continued marketing of certain drugs which have been reported to be prohibited or restricted in certain countries," the statement said.

To study this too, a sub-committee was formed with representatives from Indian Medical Association, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and two pharmacologists.

Last updated on Nov 9^th, 2009 at 20:25 pm IST--IANS