Morning-after pill available free in Wales - even to under 16s if 'clinically appropriate'
? Worries measure will cause 'irresponsible' attitudes to sex
? Pill will cost ?25 from chemists in rest of Britain
The morning-after pill is being handed out for free from high street chemists in Wales ? even to girls under 16.
Ministers hope the controversial move will reduce the number of teenage pregnancies, which is among the highest in Europe.
Women and girls can now walk into pharmacies and supermarkets to obtain the emergency contraception pill, which normally costs around ?25.
Irresponsible? Pharmacists in Wales will be able to give the free pill to girls under the age of 16 - if they believe it is 'clinically appropriate' (pictures posed by models)
The Government has insisted there are no plans to introduce similar laws in England, although some pharmacies already offer it free of charge.
But critics fear the change will promote a casual and irresponsible attitude to sex.
They point out women will know that they can easily get hold of the pill within 72 hours of sex, when it is most effective at preventing pregnancy.
There are also concerns that the rate of sexually transmitted infections will increase as couples are less inclined to use condoms.
?I don?t see how any chemist can stop a 12-year-old taking the morning-after pill ? some 12-year-olds do look like 16-year-olds these days.?
Earlier this year researchers at Nottingham University found that areas where the morning-after pill was available for free had higher rates of STIs.
They also claimed it had no effect on the rate of teenage pregnancy.
? Worries measure will cause 'irresponsible' attitudes to sex
? Pill will cost ?25 from chemists in rest of Britain
The morning-after pill is being handed out for free from high street chemists in Wales ? even to girls under 16.
Ministers hope the controversial move will reduce the number of teenage pregnancies, which is among the highest in Europe.
Women and girls can now walk into pharmacies and supermarkets to obtain the emergency contraception pill, which normally costs around ?25.
Irresponsible? Pharmacists in Wales will be able to give the free pill to girls under the age of 16 - if they believe it is 'clinically appropriate' (pictures posed by models)
The Government has insisted there are no plans to introduce similar laws in England, although some pharmacies already offer it free of charge.
But critics fear the change will promote a casual and irresponsible attitude to sex.
They point out women will know that they can easily get hold of the pill within 72 hours of sex, when it is most effective at preventing pregnancy.
There are also concerns that the rate of sexually transmitted infections will increase as couples are less inclined to use condoms.
?I don?t see how any chemist can stop a 12-year-old taking the morning-after pill ? some 12-year-olds do look like 16-year-olds these days.?
Earlier this year researchers at Nottingham University found that areas where the morning-after pill was available for free had higher rates of STIs.
They also claimed it had no effect on the rate of teenage pregnancy.