GPs attack Boots for selling morning-after pill over the counter

THE governing body for Irish doctors has hit out at the decision by Boots Pharmacy to sell emergency contraception without prescription.

Until now, women who wished to take the ‘morning-after pill’ had to visit their doctor first. From today, the service will be available in all Boots chemists nationwide.

Dr Mel Bates, chair of the Irish College of General Practitioners, said dispensing emergency contraception in this way raised issues about the quality and continuity of care. He said in a doctor setting, women could be offered advice about contraception and sexually transmitted infections.