Interview - Dr Bill Glasson, AMA President with Hamish Robertson, Radio ABC 702 'The World Today' - Morning after pill Postinor-2

ROBERTSON:      There's more debate today surrounding the over-the-counter sale of the morning after pill, with the Australian Medical Association President proposing that pharmacies be required to record the names and contact details of women buying the drug.

Health workers say that the move could lead to more unwanted pregnancies because many women wouldn't want to buy the morning after pill if they had to reveal their name.  But the AMA is insisting it would help ensure that the patient's overall health is being looked after, as Natasha Simpson now reports.

REPORTER:         There's still some more public consultation to be done, but it's expected the morning after pill will be available from pharmacies without prescription from January next year.  The Australian Medical Association originally opposed the move but now supports over the counter sales when women can't access a doctor.

Now, in a controversial proposal, AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, wants pharmacists to record the details of every woman who buys the morning after pill.

GLASSON:            Essentially, I suppose, I'd like to have a process in place whereby women who seek the emergency hormonal contraceptive, I suppose are encouraged - they can't be directed or forced - but are encouraged to seek medical attention from the point of view of looking after the whole patient.

I think the issue of the unwanted pregnancy is one issue.  But the issue of sexually transmitted diseases, issue of appropriate counselling, about the circumstances in which the unprotected intercourse occurred, and obviously on on-going contraception, has to be taken into account.

And I suppose I want to look after the whole patient and not just one aspect of it.

REPORTER:         The National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee hasn't recommended such controls but some states do require pharmacists to record the details of people who buy particular drugs, usually in cases where the drug could be addictive or used for illicit purposes.

Dr Glasson says all states should require records to be kept when women buy the morning after pill.

GLASSON:           The pharmacist needs to know that has been dispensed.  And as for other S.4 drugs such as Panadine Forte or whatever, in those states where that is recorded, I think it makes sound medical and pharmaceutical sense to record the name of the patient and the fact the drug has been dispensed so when the patient comes back in next time, you've got a record that this has been dispensed.  And if it's been dispensed three weekends in a row, I think we're not being particularly responsible if we continue to use this sort of a drug as a form of contraception rather than actually as an emergency hormonal procedure.

Ends