Contraceptive services in most pharmacies

I WRITE in response to your editorial (Irish Examiner, July 27) regarding the call from the Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) that a study should be carried out to establish the number of pharmacies that do not supply contraceptive services.

As far as the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) is aware, the vast majority of our 1,600 members who are involved in community pharmacy provide a full range of services, including contraception services.

Pharmacists' commitment to the provision of such services is exemplified by our recent successful campaign promoting sexual health. Incidentally, we worked closely with the CPA on this campaign and heard nothing from them about any concerns with regard to the availability of services at that time.

The figures quoted in your editorial that 14% of men and 9% of women have never used contraceptives or sought advice, highlights the need for such a campaign and indeed for a more active, continuous campaign.

In addition, an IPU pharmacist sits on the expert group on the National Framework on Contraceptive Services, and, again, problems with access to such services in pharmacies have never been raised.

I assure patients, firstly, that contraceptive services are available in the vast majority of pharmacies and, secondly, of the commitment of the vast majority of our members to provide a professional advisory service in this area.

Dr Karl Hilton

President

Irish Pharmaceutical Union

Butterfield House

Butterfield Avenue

Rathfarnham

Dublin 14.