India is on the verge of a controversial move that could impact millions of women across the country – the potential ban on the over-the-counter (OTC) sale of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs), including the well-known ‘morning-after pill’. Currently, these pills are accessible without a prescription, allowing women to prevent unwanted pregnancies after unprotected sex. However, an expert sub-committee formed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is set to recommend making ECPs prescription-only drugs., reported The New Indian Express. This decision, if implemented, could severely affect women’s reproductive rights and safety.
The morning-after pill, introduced in India in 2002, can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. It has provided women with autonomy over their bodies, giving them control in moments of vulnerability – be it unplanned sex, contraceptive failure, or even worse, sexual assault or coercion. Banning easy access to ECPs is not just about controlling unwanted pregnancies – it is about controlling women’s autonomy over their own bodies.
For women in India, the ability to walk into a pharmacy and purchase the pill without a prescription is crucial. The stigma surrounding sex, especially premarital sex, and the taboo of women being sexually active, can make even a simple consultation with a doctor a daunting challenge. In a society where discussing sexual health is still considered taboo, asking women to obtain a prescription for ECPs can prevent them from seeking help altogether.
Imagine the shame and fear of being judged, both by a doctor and society, for something as simple as wanting to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Not to mention, many women may not even have timely access to healthcare professionals, especially in rural areas where healthcare infrastructure is poor.
This was pointed out by several people on social media, who feared the negative impact this move can have. Here’s what they had to say:
Such a problematic move by the CDSCO. This is a heavy blow on the sexual autonomy of women and population control programs.
If there are side effects, please publish the same in regional languages. This certainly is taking us a hundred steps backward. pic.twitter.com/ROlLU81J9L— ಮೈತ್ರೇಯಿ ಹೆಗಡೆ| Maitreyi Hegde | (@maitrihegde18) October 3, 2024
Also, what is “irrational usage”. No one’s touching those pills for the fun of it, they are brutal on your body. Survival trumps discomfort in such situations. Also, not all doctors are accepting and available all the time, people may not get the time to get a prescription.
— PS (@PraanjaliS) October 3, 2024
This is bad. The emergency Contraceptives prevent many unwanted pregnancies. Now girls will need to go for surgical procedures like MTPs if they get pregnant.
Which is worse- a simple pill or surgery?— Madhumita D.Mazumdar (@mdmzd) October 5, 2024
This is scary. They are trying to control women’s bodies by making access difficult. For all “the India is ahead of America in terms of women’s reproductive health”, this is absolutely regressive. https://t.co/e6tQnjDuMz
— Angellica Aribam (@AngellicAribam) October 5, 2024
Finding ipill is already difficult. contraceptives fail all the time. Can’t believe I even have to say this but what about women who have been sexually assaulted and need it? Expecting these women to wait in the doctor’s line and get a prescription is incredibly exhausting. https://t.co/2zIRGcMptu
— cly’s bestie fl (@protussa) October 5, 2024
prohibit criminalization of marital rape ✓
restrict access to emergency contraceptives ✓is no one seeing what this is going to lead to???
how the actual fuck can anyone claim that this is not a gross violation of our autonomy? https://t.co/lLObNCNNRJ
— anhydrous NaOCl (@nustatras) October 5, 2024
We are really going backwards.
The absolute apathy for women in this world is inhumane. To take away such a huge part of sexual autonomy is crazy. Take men off these positions of power, they do not care about us. https://t.co/ZvE8GATIHe— azula (@azula_07) October 4, 2024
cdsco can’t regulate clinical trials or drugs being sold under fake names but they want to control the female reproductive autonomy, disappointed but not surprised https://t.co/BpptfCltpq
— cinnamon girl (@supacutesru) October 5, 2024
I am against this move. Letting a woman access emergency contraceptive is better than them seeking illegal abortion later on, endangering their lives. Additionally fear of meeting a gynaec for pill prescription might keep them away and even these ipills will thrive on black… https://t.co/LrCxzBKRqO
— Dr G (@idovoodoo_) October 5, 2024
These people have no problem when a large chunk of life saving drugs are made of chalk and starch.
But cant stop moral policing . https://t.co/SDJUNQAU5A— ഞഞ്ഞാമുഞ്ഞ (@UncleBhageeran) October 4, 2024
Instead of increasing awareness of side effects and better birth control methods, let’s just ban the only thing that women have access to. What could possibly go wrong :/ https://t.co/lz7xDaHMvw
— Ishani Banerjee (@ishanicat) October 4, 2024
I-pills are basic reproductive health requirements. This needs more attention.
I have often taken them in emergency situations (like when contraceptive fails because of tear/getting stuck). To make this required by prescription will really risk a lot of people losing access. https://t.co/7wbqBLy4KX
— muski 🌈 (@muskanmt13) October 4, 2024
In a country where women’s sexual and reproductive rights are still a battlefield, making ECPs harder to access is a step backwards. The government should focus on addressing why misuse happens instead of penalizing women by taking away their right to control their own bodies.