Polish President Andrzej Duda vetoed a law that would have allowed over-the-counter access to the morning-after pill for girls and women ages 15 and above, citing concerns for the health of minors and listening to the voices of parents. The President sent the law back to the parliament and suggested a debate on free access to the pill for those aged 18 and above. The decision was met with mixed reactions, with some criticizing the President for missing an opportunity to support women’s rights, while others supported his stance based on medical and ethical considerations. The law, which was intended to liberalize Poland’s reproductive regulations, would have made the pill, called ellaOne, more easily accessible.
The approval of the law by the parliament had caused massive street protests, prompting President Duda to veto the decision. The morning-after pill, which is not an abortion pill but prevents pregnancy, will continue to be available only on prescription. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that a new plan, referred to as “Plan B,” will be implemented to allow pharmacists to issue the needed prescriptions for the morning-after pill. This plan will undergo public discussion before its implementation, indicating that efforts are being made to ensure accessibility to emergency contraception in Poland.
Despite the veto from President Duda, Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna assured the public that steps will be taken to ensure the availability of the morning-after pill. The minister’s statement suggests a commitment to finding alternative solutions to address the issue of access to emergency contraception. In response to the decision, Poland’s minister for equality, Katarzyna Kotula, criticized the president for basing his decision on superstition rather than medical knowledge, highlighting the divide in opinions regarding reproductive rights and access to contraception in the country.
Poland’s restrictive reproductive regulations, which include limited access to abortion except in cases where the pregnancy threatens the woman’s health or life, have been a subject of controversy in the predominantly Roman Catholic country. The strict laws have had negative impacts on women seeking reproductive health services and have even resulted in deaths of women with troubled pregnancies. The debate surrounding the morning-after pill and reproductive rights in Poland reflects broader societal and political divisions within the country, highlighting the ongoing struggle for women’s rights and healthcare access in the region.
