The Hindu : Emergency contraception to be introduced soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 18, 2002

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Emergency contraception to be introduced soon

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MARCH 17. The Government will introduce an emergency contraception in urban areas after proper training and orientation of doctors and health workers, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, C.P. Thakur, said here today. He was inaugurating the first training workshop at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for doctors drawn from Delhi hospitals. As many as 600 doctors and service providers attended the one-day workshop.

Dr. Thakur said the emergency contraception or `the morning after pill' as it is popularly called, would widen the basket of choices for women in contraceptives.

The Drug Controller of India has permitted four companies to produce and market the emergency contraception pills which will be available only on prescription in the family welfare system.

Emergency contraception protects a woman from pregnancy if she takes the prescribed dosage of pills within 72 hours of unprotected sex.

Dr. Thakur said AIIMS and Lady Harding Medical College would be equipped with infertility clinics to prevent childless couple from going to shady clinics. The Government facility will be equipped with in-vitro fertilisation.

Addressing the workshop, the Secretary, Family Welfare, A.R. Nanda, said introduction of emergency contraception did not mean that it would be available right away. It will be introduced in phases and after training health and service providers. The orientation would be more effective if done in a detailed manner with smaller groups.

Among those who addressed the valedictory session were the Director of AIIMS, P.K. Dave and Director-General of ICMR, N.K. Ganguly.

The participants at the workshop were given tests before and after the workshop to assess their orientation.

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