Polish President Andrzej Duda recently vetoed a proposal to change the Pharmaceutical Law, which would have permitted young women aged 15 and above to buy emergency contraception pills without requiring a prescription.
The President’s office put forward the decision as an effort to respect constitutional rights and standards of children’s health protection. The decision was also influenced by a petition signed by around 30,000 individuals.
Contrary views on the veto emerged promptly. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed disappointment, stating that the president neglected the true needs of women. He insinuated that there is a “Plan B” on the horizon. Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, the Polish Deputy Culture Minister, dejectedly commented that the triumph of ‘superstitious and conservative ideology’ suppressed ‘science and women’s rights.’
Opportunity for purchase of the pill may still arise, as the country’s health minister explained in an interview. A pending regulation might authorize the emergency contraceptive on the basis of a ‘pharmaceutical prescription.’ Pharmacists’ right to refuse service based on conscience clause conflicts would also be removed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that emergency contraception be available without a prescription since such medication is seen as a self-care intervention. In contrast to this global health guideline, Poland remains one of the six worst-performing countries concerning access to modern contraception, along with Hungary, Armenia, Cyprus, Turkey, and Russia.
More details on the veto and its implications can be found in the full JURIST article.