Access to birth control for women in Ireland has been turbulent, to say the least. Although widely used as a form of birth control, the morning after pill continues to be marginalised from women in Irish society by companies, pharmacies and doctors.
Boots, the pharmaceutical chain, charges one of the highest amounts in Ireland for the morning after pill. Women are expected to pay over €35 for a consultation and the pill.
Now, a UK pregnancy charity has received a legal letter from Boots after they campaigned to reduce the costs of the morning-after pill. According to the British Pregnant Advisory Service (BPAS), Boots feel the campaign caused "immense personal distress" to their senior executives. The pharmacy chain has released a statement to Sky News to discuss their reaction to the campaign and the apparent abuse that Boot staff faced because of backlash towards the brand:
As a responsible employer, we actively seek to protect our colleagues from abuse and harassment. In our legal letter to BPAS we made it very clear that we welcome the debate on the provision of EHC (emergency hormonal contraception), and respect their right to raise this issue with us.We asked them simply to remove personal email details from their campaign widget and to agree not to encourage personal abuse of our people.We provided examples of where our employees have received abuse by email and social media in response to BPAS's campaign.
BPAS have not yet agreed to do this and we will continue to ask that they agree to our simple request, which was made only to protect the interests of our employees.We hope to receive a constructive response from BPAS, and do not wish to comment further at this time.
Originally, Boots had apologised for the way it responded to the campaign but their apology was followed with a legal letter to the BPAS.
The company announced on Thursday that 38 of their UK stores will now reduce the cost of the pill to £15.99, which is still £2.50 higher than competitors, and half the price of the Irish morning after pill.
An organisation, Re(al) - Productive Health, helps women with their reproductive health and have challenged the oppressive attitudes, both socially and financially, to the morning after pill in Ireland. One story the group posted on their website uncovered the costs of the morning after pill:
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I was overjoyed when I heard the morning after pill was becoming available over the counter in Ireland for €9.99, so imagine my surprise when I rang Boots to ask them how much it would cost and I was informed it would cost €40 because of the consultation that would go along with receiving the pill. I asked would the consultation be with a doctor and was informed ‘no’. I asked could I be refused and they said ‘unless on specific medictions, no’. I told Boots to forget it – €40 was ridiculous.
Eventually found a local pharmacist selling for €20 . She was helpful, consultation was quick and private(ish) behind a screen wall built into a corner of the shop. I was thirty at the time so it was not an emotional experience. I lived in Cork at the time so accessibility wasn’t really a problem. I have never ever seen advertising for the morning after pill so every now and again I plaster my Facebook wall with the info and remind people to pass it on.
The price of the morning after pill could mean women on low incomes, such as students, are at risk if they take a chance and decide not to take it.
If you have any complaints about a pharmacist or doctor or you need more information about your reproductive health than click here.
