BY Lux Alptraum
June 1, 2007
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Some good news to send you off on your weekend:

Over the course of the past five years, the New York City Council, reproductive rights advocates, and some other governmental partners have conducted four studies analyzing consumer access to Plan B (aka emergency contraception, aka EC, aka the pills that can prevent a pregnancy up to 72 hours after unprotected intercourse). This week, the Council released a report on the study’s findings, and the news is quite good.

In the time since the first study, EC availability has gone from 55% to 94% — an unprecedented level of access (and one that was greatly helped by the FDA’s recent decision to make Plan B available over the counter (OTC)).

Nerds should feel free to read the whole report (available here), though be warned: it’s long and fairly dry. For those among you who don’t have the patience to wade through city documents, here’s a run down of the most important findings:

• 94% (145) of surveyed pharmacies were aware (without prompting) that EC is available over the counter. This included 100% of chain pharmacies and 89% of local pharmacies (translation: go to Duane Reade next time you need EC?)
• Additionally, 94% (146) of surveyed pharmacies carried Plan B over the counter (presumably, this was the same 145 as above, plus 1 more — I’m curious as to which pharmacy carried OTC EC and just didn’t know it)
• The average price of OTC EC was $41.84 — a slight increase from the average prescription price in August 2006 ($37.40)

Additionally, the Council included the following (totally awesome) recommendations on how to continue to remove barriers to EC access in NYC:

• Ensure that EC accessible and free (or low cost) at city and non-profit clinics
• Make sure EC outreach and education programs are working to educate pharmacies
• Support the Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act in NYS
• Continue outreach and education about EC’s accessibility, safety, and efficacy

In short? I love NYC (and EC). Have a great weekend!