“Hundreds of thousands” of women have accessed the morning-after pill at a community pharmacy in the five months since the free service was launched.
The NHS today revealed that almost 305,000 doses of the emergency contraceptive pill were supplied at pharmacies between October - when it became available as part of the expanded Pharmacy Contraception Service - and this March.
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It added that pharmacies have carried out more than 1.2 million consultations for women continuing their oral contraceptive pill, as well as 192,000 for women starting it.
And it noted that by March 2026, more than 95% of the country’s community pharmacies and distance selling pharmacies had opted to provide oral contraceptive services.
“Real impact”
NHS national clinical director for women’s health Dr Sue Mann said making the morning-after pill free through pharmacies “was a major step forward for women’s health”, and gives women “quicker and easier access to emergency contraception exactly when they need it - with no appointment, no waiting and no judgement”.
“This service is already making a real impact, particularly for women living in more deprived communities, by making contraception easier to access closer to home,” she added.
“Crucially, this isn’t just about emergency contraception - community pharmacies can also help women start or continue the contraceptive pill, meaning they can leave with a longer-term plan, not just a one-off solution.”
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National Pharmacy Association chief executive Henry Gregg said pharmacies “are proud to be delivering this vital programme” and “have the potential to be delivering many more NHS services for their patients than they currently do”.
“With the right levels of funding support and ambition, pharmacies can help deliver the government’s ambitions to provide more care closer to people’s homes, removing pressures from the rest of the health system.”
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And pharmacist Veronica Sanna said the feedback from patients “has been incredibly positive”.
“Women really value being able to access confidential, professional advice quickly and easily, without needing to book an appointment,” she added.
“Community pharmacies also give women greater choice. We’re accessible, open for extended hours and offer private consultation rooms, making it easier for women to seek advice in confidence and get the care they need, when they need it.”
Read more: Eighteen pharmacies highlighted in LGA teen pregnancy report
It comes after the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH) this month called for the emergency contraceptive pill to be “reclassified under the General Sales List”.
The college said the move would enable “direct purchase from retail outlets” and remove “the need for a consultation with a healthcare professional”.
