Plan B "morning after pill" may be available behind the counter

Reuters is reporting today on a letter sent by the FDA to Barr Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Plan B (also known as the morning after pill). The letter, along with a quote from an unidentified FDA official suggests that the FDA may approve Plan B for sale without a prescription to women 18 and over, but that the product would remain "behind the counter" meaning that women would have to ask the pharmacist for the product. This raises the possibility that some pharmacists could refuse to sell it, as they have in the past with the birth control pill.

According to the article people on both sides of this issue are unhappy with the possibility, but in their letter to Barr the FDA indicated that it wanted to resolve the question of Plan B availability "in a matter of weeks".

While behind the counter isn't as good as on the shelf, greater accessibility to Plan B means at least more women will have access to this drug that has been approved, unanimously recommended to the FDA by their own scientists, and can clearly improve the quality of life for the women who have access to it. So even if it's not the best resolution, it's better than it could have been.

Read more - Reuters: FDA may loosen sales of "morning-after pill"

Previously:

• More reasons to stop stalling on Plan B
• Women Sue Wal-Mart Over Morning After Pill
• Several States Act While FDA Continues to Delay on Plan B Decision