£26 for the morning-after pill. WTF is that all about?

[ChocolateMoose]

Is it just me who sees that as a deliberate decision to make 'irresponsible' women to pay for contraceptive failures or mistakes? What about those who can't afford to have another baby, but for whom that money was going to pay for food and heating?

Now adding righteous indignation on top of my previous grumpiness at having to go and get the damn thing in the first place.

I thought you got it for free at family planning clinics?

It probably should not be taken lightly, and not be an alternative to condoms.

I know, it's a shocking price. Perhaps it's to discourage women from taking it regularly and therefore not organising proper contraception, although that is wrong IMO.

Can you not get a prescription from your GP?

If you are in GB, it's free on the NHS, but available on a pay basis for those who prefer to access it that was.

The cost will be set by the manufacturer. I doubt the pharmas will have a social agenda.

I wasn't implying that it was the manufacturer's agenda, exactly. Thinking about it, I guess it is partly the difference between getting normal contraception which you can plan ahead for, get a GP's appointment or wait for a family planning clinic session, and something that you are supposed to take as soon as possible so generally would just have to go to the nearest chemist and pay. Still think the end result's crap though.

That's over the counter price - people should be able to get an emergency appointment with their GP within 72 hours (within 24 to make it really effective) and get it free.

The only time I've taken it it was a Sunday and all the doctors were closed, I had to find that money or else. Luckily boyfriend at the time paid for it as it was "his fault" (to his mind, not in actual fact). But it is extortionate and should be available much more cheaply IMO. Surely someone can make a cheap version?

I have wondered if it is to put people off taking it.

I have not taken it before for exactly that reason, that's a week's food money.

All very well to say go to fpclinic but how at the weekend, when rural public transport shuts down and ooh doctor doesn't answer phone!

Thankfully I wasn't pregnant.

On the plus side there is a time limit on pharma copyrights so eventually someone will be making it more cheaply.

I looked on Bayers website (the manufacturers of Levonelle). Levonelle OneStep is sold in packs of 10 costing £22.35. Levonelle 1500 is also sold in packs of 10 and is either £13.83 or £5.20.

It's the COST.

Now you know just how valuable NHS treatment and prescriptions are.

Some pharmacies are able to provide the morning after pill for free. If the pharmacy is charging you £26 ask them which ones are offering it for free in your local area.

''Now you know just how valuable NHS treatment and prescriptions are.''

It's the NHS who are charging us more then 10x the retail value for the MAP.

Oh, sorry - didn't read that properly.

Ordinarily you can get an emergency GP or family planning clinic appointment and get it for free, if you call NHS direct they can give you details of where you can get it if your doctors is closed.

Surely it's a very low number of people who actually have to pay the full over the counter cost. Since in the UK you can get all other forms of contraception for free I think it's a fair price.

Surely someone can make a cheap version?

If they did wouldn't more people rely on it as a standard form of contraception though? Surely that wouldn't be a good thing at all?

"If they did wouldn't more people rely on it as a standard form of contraception though?"

Er, no. I highly doubt that anyone considers the cost of the MAP when they are remembering/forgetting to use contraception.

It's not the NHS, its the pharmacist - a private business - who are charging for over-the-counter MAP.

Also, I think you misread the Bayer price list. Levonelle One-step is £13.83 each wholesale with a recommended retail selling price of £22.35 inc VAT. Levonelle 1500 is prescription only.

If a pharmacist chooses to sell for £26, that's their business.

I was shocked at the price too. I think it should be more affordable, I do think some people would be put off by the price.

I had to take it once and when we got to the shops I realised that I'd forgotten to bring the prescription I'd got from the GP, and dh just drove us off saying oh it's cheaper to just have the baby .

(I still went back after getting the prescription btw)

Totally agree, Trillian. And to be honest I am fairly to mediumly sure that most people who think/can be arsed to take the MAP are people who usually use contraception. I can't imagine there are that many people who hardly ever have sex, but when they occasionally do don't bother with contraception, but instead get down to the GPs to get the MAP. Who would those people be? Far more likely that people who take it are those whose contraception has failed (i.e. condom problem or perhaps throwing up the Pill), or who didn't use contraception as a one-off stupid thing, and are then making damn sure they don't bring an unwanted child into the world.

Its cheaper than a baby - have you seen the cost of one of those

I had to get the MAP not that long ago. Went to a local v.large (and therefore anonymous) Boots. They offered it for £26 or free if I filled in a questionnaire.

Guess which option I chose.

I got charged £26.50 in Devon

crazy prices IMA underage girls have to pay but obver 19's get it free