Polish Left submits bill to allow prescription-free access to morning-after pill

The Left (Lewica), Poland’s second-largest opposition group, has submitted a bill that would make morning-after pills available without a prescription. It argues that this will increase the safety of Polish women and reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions.

Since 2017, Poland has been one of only two EU countries – along with Hungary – where a prescription is required to obtain emergency contraception, after the ruling national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party tightened the law.

In justifying the decision, the then health minister, Konstanty Radziwiłł, argued that emergency contraceptives can have side effects and should only be administered under medical supervision. He also said that he himself, being a medical doctor, would refuse to prescribe such pills, even to a rape victim, as it would violate his beliefs.

The move was, however, criticised by opposition parties as well as many experts. It resulted in Poland being ranked as having Europe’s worst contraception policies by the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights.

On Friday, The Left announced that it has submitted a draft amendment to the pharmaceutical law to remove medicinal products used in contraception from the category of medication requiring a prescription.

The need to obtain a prescription for morning-after pills “delays access to medicines which, due to their mechanism of action and decreasing effectiveness over time, should be taken by patients immediately after unprotected intercourse”, said The Left.

The proposed amendment “will allow for better access to healthcare, and women will be able to feel a little more secure”, said Magdalena Biejat, one of the group’s MPs.

“The state has put further obstacles in the way of women in Poland having easy access to contraception,” added her parliamentary colleague Katarzyna Kotula, who noted that arranging a private visit to a gynaecologist can cost 250 zloty (€56).

Obtaining an appointment also takes time, while minors need parental consent for an appointment. The Left also notes that Poland’s so-called “conscience clause” – which allows doctors to refuse to provide treatment that conflicts with their beliefs – provides a further obstacle to obtaining emergency contraception.

Given that PiS commands a majority in parliament, there is currently no realistic chance of The Left’s legislation being passed. However, the group hopes to come to power as part of an opposition coalition after this autumn’s elections.

The largest opposition party, the centrist Civic Platform (PO), has also criticised the conscience clause and expressed the aim of improving access to contraception, which PO’s leader, Donald Tusk, calls a “fundamental right”.

Both PO and The Left have made strengthening women’s rights and improving reproductive healthcare a central part of their election campaigns, including pledging to end the near-total abortion ban introduced under PiS and instead introduce some form of abortion on demand.

Main image credit: Klub Lewicy/Flickr (under public domain)

Anna Hackett

Anna Hackett is an assistant editor at Notes from Poland. She is a recent graduate of European Studies from Trinity College Dublin and has had previous journalistic experience with the Irish Independent News & Media group.