Madrid, Spain, Nov 4, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Spain’s Health Minister, Elena Salgado, is set to propose to all of Spain’s autonomous communities that the morning after pill be distributed nationwide free of charge.
Speaking to reporters of the Spanish newspaper, “La Razon”, sources from the Health Ministry said the intention of the government is for the pill to be distributed throughout the country beginning in 2005, since up to now it is only available in Andalusia, Extremadura, Navarra, Cantabria y Catalonia.
The decision is based on a non-binding proposition which the health committee of the House of Representatives sent to the government last October 6 and which promotes the free distribution of the abortion pill under physician guidance.
According to La Razon, the Health Ministry will make a decision “after a detailed analysis is concluded” on the cost this pill entails in the five regions that currently distribute it.