Concerns over moves to introduce Postinor-2 morning-after pill to Australia
5 June 2002

Concern has been expressed at recently reported lobbying (The Advertiser, 3 June) by drug company Schering for permission to sell the morning-after pill Postinor-2 without prescription through supermarkets and vending machines. The drug is expected to be released in Australia, initially on prescription, in July.

Spokesperson for the Australian Federation of Right to Life Associations, Mary Joseph, has called on Federal Health Minister Senator Kay Patterson to reject moves to introduce this abortion-inducing drug into Australia.

"There is advice on the Schering parent company Internet site (www.women-and-men.de) that morning-after pills are not suitable for regular use", said Ms Joseph. "The proposal to make this drug freely available to teenagers or anyone else through vending machines or supermarkets without prescription is a sales and marketing effort defying common sense".

Ms Joseph said that the description of the drug as 'emergency contraception' was inaccurate and did not reflect the abortion-inducing nature of the drug.

"Women are not being told that one of the effects of the morning-after pill is that the embryo is prevented from implanting in the uterine wall, thereby causing an early abortion.

"By describing morning-after pills as 'emergency contraception', or by describing an embryo as a 'fertilised ovum', those offering these drugs are misleading women and denying them the opportunity to give their full informed consent to an abortion.

"Regardless of opinions on abortion, women should be given full and accurate information on the action of morning-after pills, including the fact that this drug can cause an early abortion. Women will not be able to give their informed consent to the use of the morning-after pill if this information is hidden."

Abortifacient drugs are classed in the Therapeutic Goods Act as 'restricted goods' and under the Act can only be imported with the Health Minister's express permission. "Senator Patterson should stop the importation of Postinor-2, but at the very least she should make absolutely sure that women are given full information on the action of the drug."

For a copy of a fact sheet on the Postinor-2 morning-after pill, click here.

Contact: Mary Joseph, spokesperson for the Australian Federation of Right to Life Associations, tel 02 6253 3100