Morning-After Pill to Be Offered in Canada

OTTAWA (AP) _ The Canadian government announced plans Tuesday to make the morning after birth control pill more widely available without a prescription. <br/><br/>Health Minister Pierre Pettigrew said

Wednesday, May 19th 2004, 9:14 am

By: News On 6

OTTAWA (AP) _ The Canadian government announced plans Tuesday to make the morning after birth control pill more widely available without a prescription.

Health Minister Pierre Pettigrew said the change would give timely access to emergency contraceptives for women and help prevent unwanted pregnancies.

The move comes weeks after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration decided to keep the pill on its list of prescription drugs.

Anti-abortion activists have denounced Canada's decision, which won't become law for several months while the health department reviews the issue gathers input from interested parties.

``We're not talking here about reopening a debate'' about abortion, Pettigrew said from Geneva, where he's attending a World Health Organization meeting.

If taken within 72 hours of intercourse, the pill blocks pregnancy. But it won't work if the user is already pregnant.

The pill is already available without prescription in Saskatchewan, Quebec and British Columbia.

The federal decision wouldn't require the remaining provinces to make the pill available, but would make it easier for them to do so, officials said.