Community Pharmacists are welcoming the fact that women on medical cards will soon be able to get emergency contraception for free from their pharmacist.

This development represents a departure from the old system, which required women with medical cards to obtain a prescription from their GP. The alternative to that was to pay for the bill themselves. 

Pharmacists will be reimbursed for providing the morning after pill to those on the cards.

Outgoing President of the Irish Pharmacy Union, Kathy Maher, says time is critical when it comes to emergency contraception:

"Stats show that one in five women that access emergency contraception actually do so even though they have a medical card they're forced to pay because of the time of access and because of the benefit of going to the Community Pharmacy and accessing safe and effective treatment early. So, we're delighted that this will come about and this is a result of campaigning with Minister Varadkar at last year's conference."