Decision Makers: CDSCO
Demands:
Clear regulations of Emergency Contraceptive Pills
Continued Over-the-Counter access to ECPs
Education and Awareness Campaigns
Introduction
In India, women’s access to reproductive healthcare is at a critical point. The Drugs Consultative Committee of CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) has proposed a regulation to make emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) available only with a prescription.
For years, Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg emergency contraception pill, available over-the-counter, has been a lifeline for women across the country, preventing unintended pregnancies and reducing unsafe abortions. Any shift towards making ECPs prescription-only threatens the health and autonomy of women and trans and non binary individuals.
The proposed change would also disproportionately harm women from rural, under-resourced areas already reeling from the massive deficit of registered medical practitioners. In fact, HLL Lifecare Ltd, the public sector undertaking driving India’s family planning mission in rural India, has flagged the ongoing challenges in the rural population's access to reproductive healthcare and repeatedly stressed that oral contraceptives should be available without prescription and without a sale licence requirement so as to enable distribution via social marketing outside the limited pharmacy network.
India is yet to finalise a list of over-the-counter medicines. Currently any drug that is not listed under Schedules H, H1 or X of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, can be sold over the counter. No Levonorgestrel-only pill has been specified in the aforementioned schedules. As a result, these should be available over-the-counter and without a prescription. However, many states across India practise shadow bans as a result of ambiguity regarding the sales licence requirement.
The ‘CDSCO’ announcement fails to address the complexities and confusion surrounding emergency contraception. Without clear, actionable policies, millions of women could face barriers to accessing vital healthcare.
Why This Matters
Access to ECPs is not just a matter of convenience, it is a matter of life and death for many women. In India, over 80,000 maternal deaths per annum are due to unsafe abortions. Emergency contraceptives offer a safe and effective way to prevent unintended pregnancies.
The challenge for women in rural areas is even greater. Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers play an important role in distributing contraceptives, including ECPs. Given the limited access of women in these areas to hospitals or clinics, ASHA workers are able to distribute ECPs to those in need. However, requiring prescriptions for ECPs would make their task nearly impossible.
The Press Release and Why It's Not Enough: The CDSCO’s recent press release claimed there is no immediate change in how ECPs like i-Pill and Unwanted-72 are sold currently. However, this statement fails to provide clear guidelines on the future of emergency contraception access. There is still widespread confusion and the resulting lack of clarity creates ambiguity not just for women but also for healthcare providers and pharmacists.
All women, regardless of their location or socio-economic status should have timely access to ECPs. Without clear policies, access and availability of ECPs is under threat, risking an increase in unsafe abortions, maternal deaths, and the violation of women’s reproductive rights.
What We Are Demanding: We demand that the government make a clear commitment to preserving and safeguarding women’s reproductive rights. Specifically, we are asking for:
Levonorgestrel ECPs must remain available over the counter without requiring a prescription. Ready availability via hospitals, pharmacies, social marketing channels and ASHAs must be assured given that it is listed as an essential medicine.
The government must clearly mention in Schedule K of The Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, that the 1.5 mg Levonorgestrel-only ECP is exempted from the sales licence requirement thus ensuring easy access to contraceptives.
An awareness drive to remove misconceptions about ECP access with government officials, doctors and pharmacists.
The government should launch sustained nationwide campaigns to raise awareness about safe ECP use, possible side effects, and the importance of emergency contraception in preventing unintended pregnancies.
Restricting access to ECPs would undermine the decades of progress in women’s reproductive healthcare. Women have the right to make informed choices about their own bodies, and any policies that limit access to contraceptives threaten that right.
Stand with us to demand clarity, access to essential medicines and protection of women’s reproductive rights.
Decision Makers: CDSCO
Demands:
Clear regulations of Emergency Contraceptive Pills
Continued Over-the-Counter access to ECPs
Education and Awareness Campaigns
Introduction
In India, women’s access to reproductive healthcare is at a critical point. The Drugs Consultative Committee of CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) has proposed a regulation to make emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) available only with a prescription.
For years, Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg emergency contraception pill, available over-the-counter, has been a lifeline for women across the country, preventing unintended pregnancies and reducing unsafe abortions. Any shift towards making ECPs prescription-only threatens the health and autonomy of women and trans and non binary individuals.
The proposed change would also disproportionately harm women from rural, under-resourced areas already reeling from the massive deficit of registered medical practitioners. In fact, HLL Lifecare Ltd, the public sector undertaking driving India’s family planning mission in rural India, has flagged the ongoing challenges in the rural population's access to reproductive healthcare and repeatedly stressed that oral contraceptives should be available without prescription and without a sale licence requirement so as to enable distribution via social marketing outside the limited pharmacy network.
India is yet to finalise a list of over-the-counter medicines. Currently any drug that is not listed under Schedules H, H1 or X of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, can be sold over the counter. No Levonorgestrel-only pill has been specified in the aforementioned schedules. As a result, these should be available over-the-counter and without a prescription. However, many states across India practise shadow bans as a result of ambiguity regarding the sales licence requirement.
The ‘CDSCO’ announcement fails to address the complexities and confusion surrounding emergency contraception. Without clear, actionable policies, millions of women could face barriers to accessing vital healthcare.
Why This Matters
Access to ECPs is not just a matter of convenience, it is a matter of life and death for many women. In India, over 80,000 maternal deaths per annum are due to unsafe abortions. Emergency contraceptives offer a safe and effective way to prevent unintended pregnancies.
The challenge for women in rural areas is even greater. Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers play an important role in distributing contraceptives, including ECPs. Given the limited access of women in these areas to hospitals or clinics, ASHA workers are able to distribute ECPs to those in need. However, requiring prescriptions for ECPs would make their task nearly impossible.
The Press Release and Why It's Not Enough: The CDSCO’s recent press release claimed there is no immediate change in how ECPs like i-Pill and Unwanted-72 are sold currently. However, this statement fails to provide clear guidelines on the future of emergency contraception access. There is still widespread confusion and the resulting lack of clarity creates ambiguity not just for women but also for healthcare providers and pharmacists.
All women, regardless of their location or socio-economic status should have timely access to ECPs. Without clear policies, access and availability of ECPs is under threat, risking an increase in unsafe abortions, maternal deaths, and the violation of women’s reproductive rights.
What We Are Demanding: We demand that the government make a clear commitment to preserving and safeguarding women’s reproductive rights. Specifically, we are asking for:
Levonorgestrel ECPs must remain available over the counter without requiring a prescription. Ready availability via hospitals, pharmacies, social marketing channels and ASHAs must be assured given that it is listed as an essential medicine.
The government must clearly mention in Schedule K of The Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, that the 1.5 mg Levonorgestrel-only ECP is exempted from the sales licence requirement thus ensuring easy access to contraceptives.
An awareness drive to remove misconceptions about ECP access with government officials, doctors and pharmacists.
The government should launch sustained nationwide campaigns to raise awareness about safe ECP use, possible side effects, and the importance of emergency contraception in preventing unintended pregnancies.
Restricting access to ECPs would undermine the decades of progress in women’s reproductive healthcare. Women have the right to make informed choices about their own bodies, and any policies that limit access to contraceptives threaten that right.
Stand with us to demand clarity, access to essential medicines and protection of women’s reproductive rights.