Today, the parliamentary health committee gave a favorable opinion on the proposed amendment to the Medicines Act. The change concerns ulipristal acetate, the active ingredient in the morning-after pill.
During the committee presentation, the Minister of Health noted that in January 2015 the European Medicines Agency designated a single medicine containing ulipristal acetate as available without a prescription.
European patterns and national decisions
In the European Union, a tablet with this active substance is sold without a prescription in 25 member states. Poland and Hungary are among the few where a prescription is still required. In 2017, the then parliamentary majority introduced an additional restriction, a move later described as harmful to women’s health and lives.
– she commented.
She emphasized the broad goal of reducing unintended pregnancies and unsafe, clandestine abortions, which often pose risks to a woman’s health or life.
To achieve this, two prerequisites were highlighted: comprehensive sex education and accessible, safe contraception. Unfortunately, those essentials are not sufficiently available in Poland.
– the Minister of Health added.
THE DISCUSSION AROUND THIS ISSUE ALSO RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUTH ACCESS AND SAFETY, WITH POLITICAL VOICES INTERCHANGEABLY FOCUSING ON HOW BEST TO PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE.
Unified government stance
The minister stated that the draft amendment received unanimous support from the Council of Ministers.
The morning-after pill does not induce an abortion. Its purpose is to prevent conception by hindering fertilization when taken promptly. The sooner it is used, the lower the chance of pregnancy.
– the head of the Health Ministry explained.
She noted that the proposal includes a provision authorizing the Minister of Health to issue rules that could tighten access for certain age groups, potentially requiring a prescription in specific circumstances. It was recalled that in Poland, sexual intercourse before age 15 is a crime, and the age threshold was treated as a guiding limit.
No public hearing
During the committee session, amendments proposed by PiS MPs, including increasing the age at which the morning-after pill could be obtained without a prescription to 18, were not adopted. The motion to reject the draft amendment at first reading was likewise not approved.
Former Health Minister Katarzyna Sójka criticized the government’s approach, arguing that a 15-year-old cannot independently acquire basic services like a SIM card or use a tanning salon, yet the morning-after pill could become accessible after a governance change.
Previously, the morning-after pill could be used by 15-year-old patients after consultation with a doctor, whether a gynecologist or a general practitioner, following a preliminary assessment.
– Sójka commented.
The discussion also touched on broader concerns about teenagers’ welfare and the role of adults in safeguarding their health in cases of risky sexual behavior.
The amendment from Marcelina Zawisza of the left-wing party, which would remove an article restricting prescription-free access, did not gain support. A provision that would remove the prescription requirement altogether remained unresolved.
Throughout the committee, requests for a public hearing were refused because they had not been submitted in writing.
The government’s Pharmaceutical Act amendment reiterates that ulipristal acetate, the morning-after pill, is the subject of the proposed changes.
The topic appears to be entangled with political dynamics, with critics suggesting that it reflects strategic concessions to different political factions rather than a regulated, evidence-based approach to public health. This perspective emphasizes the need for careful, transparent consideration of how age, consent, and prescription requirements affect young people’s health and safety.
Additional context and analysis discussed around this issue includes debates about the moral aspects of morning-after pill use and questions about how access might influence attitudes toward contraception and pregnancy prevention. These discussions underscore the importance of balancing public health goals with individual rights and safeguards for young people.
– Additional commentary from health policy experts and officials highlights the ongoing nature of this debate, with emphasis on safeguarding youth while ensuring access to safe medical options.