Pharmacy Access Partnership

HERE'S WHAT'S NEW AT PHARMACY ACCESS PARTNERSHIP: Pharmacy Access Partnership and the Pacific Institute for Women's Health have developed the Client Confidentiality Card (the C-Card) to promote improved access to emergency contraception (EC) for clients — especially young women — in the pharmacy setting. EC, also known as the "morning-after pill," can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. Women and men 18 and older can now get EC without a prescription. AND, if you're 17 or younger (or don't have ID to show you're 18), you can get EC in many pharmacies nationwide (9 states: AK, CA, HI, MA, ME, NH, NM, VT, WA) directly from a specially-trained pharmacist, without an advance prescription, no matter how old you are! Young women told us that they will be more likely to seek services in the pharmacy if there is a way to have a private conversation with a pharmacist in a crowded pharmacy...so, we developed the C-Card!The C-Card includes a message for pharmacists that can be torn off and used by women to request EC non-verbally in a crowded pharmacy. The message says, "Dear Pharmacist, I would like to obtain emergency contraception. Please help me learn about this important back up birth control method in a confidential way. Thank you." The woman simply tears off and gives the pharmacist the bottom half of the card to let the pharmacist know she would like to get EC, without drawing unwanted attention to herself from other pharmacy patrons.To check out the card or order some for yourself, please visit www.pharmacyaccess.org. Visit www.EC-Help.org to find out where to go to get EC.ABOUT US: Pharmacy Access Partnership works to promote increased access to reproductive health products services in pharmacies, and to give pharmacies a stronger role in promoting community health. Some of the important issues we address include:*Promoting young and adult women's access to birth control information and services, including emergency contraception (EC or "the morning-after pill"). Want more info on EC and how to get it? Click here.*Advancing policies and programs that promote the prevention of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections*Pharmacist training and education to provide emergency contraception and other pharmacy focused services.Did you hear? The FDA approved Plan B emergency contraception for sale without a prescription for consumers 18 and older. Women 17 and younger will still need a prescription. Click here for more information.Pharmacy Access Partnership maintains several websites:Visit www.pharmacyaccess.org to learn about our current programs and research.Visit www.EC-Help.org to learn about EC find a pharmacy near you* where there is at least one pharmacist on staff who can provide women of ALL AGES emergency contraception without an advance prescription from a doctor or clinic. *In states that allow EC pharmacy access (AK, CA, HI, ME, MA, NH, NM, WA, VT).Visit www.go2ec.org to learn about what pharmacy access efforts are going on in different states across the country.The work of Pharmacy Access Partnership would not be possible without the continued support of our visionary funders.