From today, people in England can walk into thousands of pharmacies and get the morning-after pill for free, a move being called one of the biggest changes to women’s healthcare in decades.
Nearly 10,000 pharmacies, including major chains like Boots and Superdrug, will offer free emergency contraception as part of an NHS England expansion of community pharmacy services. Until now, buying the pill over the counter could cost up to £30, depending on the brand or location.
The change is designed to make access faster and fairer. For many, that means not having to book a GP appointment or find an open sexual health clinic when time is critical. The morning-after pill works best the sooner it’s taken, ideally within 72 hours, but in some cases up to five days after unprotected sex.
Dr Sue Mann, NHS England’s national clinical director for women’s health, said the update marks “one of the biggest changes to sexual health services since the 1960s”. She said women would now be able to “speak to trusted professionals in their local pharmacy and get the help they need quickly and confidentially”.
It’s estimated that four in five people live within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy. Health officials hope that proximity will make a real difference, especially for those in rural areas or where clinics have closed following funding cuts in recent years.
While emergency contraception has always been available for free from GPs and sexual health clinics, access hasn’t been equal everywhere. Some local councils already funded free provision through pharmacies, but others didn’t, meaning whether or not you paid often depended on your postcode. The new NHS scheme removes that inconsistency.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) said the rollout was a “long overdue” step in normalising reproductive healthcare. “No one should face financial or logistical barriers when trying to prevent an unwanted pregnancy,” a spokesperson said.
Pharmacists taking part in the scheme will provide a short consultation before issuing the pill, offering advice about which option is most suitable and what to do next if it isn’t appropriate. They can also discuss ongoing contraception and refer patients to other services where needed.
The service is part of a wider £617 million government investment to expand what pharmacies can offer. As well as emergency contraception, people will now be able to speak to pharmacists about antidepressant medication and get advice for common infections and minor conditions, all without seeing a GP first.
For campaigners, the change feels like progress after years of cuts and setbacks in sexual health funding. It removes a financial hurdle that disproportionately affected younger women and those on lower incomes.
Still, awareness will be key. Many people aren’t yet familiar with the new offer or may assume they’ll still be charged. NHS England has said information will be made available through its website and pharmacy signage, but campaigners are calling for a broader effort to make sure women know their rights.
The morning-after pill remains a crucial part of reproductive healthcare, and for the first time, access won’t depend on someone’s budget or postcode. In practical terms, this change could mean fewer unwanted pregnancies and fewer women having to jump through hoops for care that should have been simple all along.
