The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has resumed discussions on "emergency contraceptives" to prevent unintended pregnancies, whether to make them available at pharmacies without seeing a doctor for the first time in four years.
Emergency contraceptives are said to prevent pregnancy with a high probability if taken within 72 hours of sexual activity, and a doctor's prescription is required to obtain them in Japan.
On the other hand, a women's support group prescribed a prescription last month, saying that there are many people who become pregnant while being unable to see a doctor immediately at night or on holidays, or who are hesitant to see a doctor due to sexual damage, and are forced to have an abortion operation. I applied to the country to sell it at a pharmacy even if I didn't have one.
In response to this, on the 7th, a study group of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare began discussions on whether to lift the ban on pharmacy sales, and in the future, we will proceed with the study while listening to the opinions of women's support groups and obstetricians and gynecologists.
The lifting of the ban on pharmacy sales was discussed at the study group four years ago, but because sex education is behind Europe and the United States, understanding of drugs is not progressing, and pharmacists fully explain the effects and risks. It has been postponed as premature because it is difficult to do.
For this reason, the study group will also investigate what kind of explanations are required of pharmacists in countries where pharmacy sales are permitted, and how sex education related to contraception is conducted.