Women now have more contraceptive options since the FDA approved over the counter use of the ‘morning after’ pill yesterday, however religious leaders argue that Bahamian women should not have this choice.
The Bahamas Christian Council (BCC) released a statement to the Nassau Guardian yesterday saying they would fight any law making the Plan B pill readily available over the counter. The BCC administrative assistant, Reverend Dr. C.B. Moss said the council stands firm against any kind of abortion.
“The Christian Council would oppose any such legislation if it is ever introduced to the Bahamas,” said Moss. “[The BCC] will oppose any bill of such nature as we stand opposed to abortion in this manner.”
Moss said he spoke on behalf of the BCC president, Reverend Dr. William Thompson, who authorised the statement of disapproval about the US Food and Drug Administration’s controversial decision.
The recent ruling enabled women who are 18 and older to purchase the “emergency contraceptive” after a night of unprotected sex as easily as they could buy cough medicine from the local drug store. However, the girls 17 and under need a prescription to receive the pill, the FDA have stipulated.
A local pharmacist, who did not want her identity to be revealed for personal reasons, explained how the pill was used before this ruling.
“We have cases now where doctors write prescriptions for the birth control pills at a recommended dosage. It is not marketed as the morning after or Plan B pill, but it is regular birth control pills at a stronger dosage.
This endorsement has sparked a concern in the Christian community that this law being brought to the Bahamas would encourage promiscuous behavior.
“We are certainly saddened that it has reached a point where one does not have to carry responsibility for their actions and we don’t want to see the authorities give credence to any action of that nature by anyone,” said Moss. “If the individuals don’t have consequences for their action, they will be far more willing to proceed in that manner.”
Moss said the only case where the church may concede on this stand is in one where the termination is carried out in the course of saving the mother’s life. He said that this must be carried out by a physician and should be within jurisdiction.
Guardian staff tried unsuccessfully to get in touch with health officials from the Ministry of Health and National insurance regarding this matter.
The pharmacy source admitted to the Guardian that although she did not know for sure if the contraceptive would be brought to the Bahamas, it was her opinion that it should be here in some form in the not too distant future.
“We are just a hop, skip and a jump away from the US so I don’t think it will be long.”
The pharmacist also speculated on the price of the Plan B pill if it was to ever be lawfully allowed as an over the counter drug here in the Bahamas.
“I don’t know what pricing will be when and if it gets here, right now [the similar pill to Plan B] goes for about $4,” said the source. “It will definitely be higher here since it is not available locally and would have to be imported probably from the US.”
The pharmacist gave a guesstimate of the price to be around $60 if it ever reaches the point where it is locally accessible without prescription in the nation. She explained that the recently approved over-the-counter drug involved taking two pills within 12 hours of each other.
By: Inderia Saunders, The Nassau Guardian
