Row over pharmacy site’s ‘pocket money’ abortion pill promotion

A UK website is selling the morning-after pill for less than £5 and urging women to bulk buy.

Online pharmacy Chemist 4 U has started a controversial new promotion which advertises “Emergency Contraception from Only £4.99”, adding: “Buy In Advance & Keep One Spare”.

The morning-after pill can cause an early stage abortion and encourages reckless sexual behaviour.

‘Moral issues’

Last night, pro-life campaigners hit out against the move, saying it encourages women to treat abortifacient drugs as routine contraception.

Josephine Quintavalle, from Comment on Reproductive Ethics, criticised Chemist 4 U for offering the morning-after pill at “pocket money prices”.

She said: “These are really serious drugs – it worries me that even regardless of the moral issues, selling at these prices and without proper consultation is misleading women into thinking this is routine contraception, and something that can be treated casually.”

A representative for Chemist 4 U stood by the promotion, saying that the £4.99 price tag with £1.99 shipping is a “reasonable price point” for the abortion drug.

Feminist pressure

In July, Boots was accused of ‘capitulating’ to pressure from radical feminists, after it agreed to reduce the price of the morning-after pill in its pharmacies.

The high street chemist had resisted calls from abortion giant BPAS to make the drug cheaper saying it would ‘incentivise inappropriate use’.

However, after a furious backlash from BPAS and dozens of Labour MPs, Boots said it was “truly sorry” and has now provided a cheaper product at a price of £15.99.

Learn more

To learn more about the morning-after pill and biblical teaching on abortion, download our briefing.

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