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Japan allows morning-after pill without prescription
Japan has officially approved the sale of the morning-after pill without a prescription, a decision hailed by reproductive rights advocates after nearly eight years of debate. ASKA Pharmaceutical announced on Monday, October 20, that it had received authorization to manufacture and market the emergency contraceptive.
The pill will be available to all women regardless of age, with no requirement for parental consent, according to the Mainichi Shimbun. However, it will be labeled as a “medicine requiring advice,” meaning that women must take it in the presence of a pharmacist.
Previously, emergency contraception in Japan was only available through a doctor’s prescription, which critics argued created barriers for teenagers and survivors of sexual assault. The pill is most effective within 72 hours after unprotected sex, although its efficacy decreases over time. Prices are expected to range between 7,000 and 9,000 yen (approximately 40 to 52 euros).
The move aligns Japan with more than 90 countries where the morning-after pill is already available over the counter. The World Health Organization recommends including emergency contraception in all national family planning programs.