Will the morning-after pill be available regardless of the president's decision? Ministry of Health has “plan B”
Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna announced that she has a “plan B” if President Andrzej Duda does not sign the law on the morning-after pill. She assured that regardless of his decision, it would soon be available without a prescription.
Since 2017, morning-after pills in Poland are only available by prescription. The solutions currently underway are aimed at repealing this provision. President Andrzej Duda was asked in an interview for Polsat News whether he would veto the amendment to the Pharmaceutical Law regarding the so-called morning-after pills, which would make it possible to buy them without a prescription for people over 15 years of age. He announced that he would not sign the bill introducing “unhealthy, sick and dangerous for children” rules. Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna commented on President Andrzej Duda's position, announcing that she had a plan to override his “veto” on this matter.
The president's position on the “morning after” pill without a prescription
According to the head of state, the morning-after pill is a “far-reaching exaggeration” for minors. “I am waiting for (the bill – editor's note) to reach the desk of the President of the Republic of Poland, then I will analyze all its details and decide what its future fate will be,” said the president. “However, I will not sign a bill that introduces unhealthy, sick and dangerous rules for children,” he said. He also noted that such a pill is available on the Polish market and added: “It is available on reasonable terms, with a prescription, and its availability is completely free.”
What about the morning-after pill without a prescription? Ministry of Health has “plan B”
At the Thursday (March 14, 2024) press conference, Minister of Health Izabela Leszczyna referred to President Andrzej Duda's announcement. The question was asked what he would do if the president did not sign the act that provides for the availability of such a pill for people over 15 years of age without a prescription. The head of the Ministry of Health explained that even if this happens, she has a “plan B”.
“I am sorry to hear that Mr. President, with a stubbornness worthy of a better cause, is taking a stand against Polish women. When it comes to the morning-after pill, i.e. safe emergency contraception, which is not an early abortion pill, if the president does not sign the bill, I have a “plan B”. The tablet will be available without a prescription anyway, but I will inform about it only after the president has exhausted the time he has to sign the act,” explained the Minister of Health.
She also mentioned that she wanted to give the president time to think: “I would like to do it by the end of April, so that there will be a new law from May 1,” added Izabela Leszczyna. Also read the most important information about the morning-after pill.
