'Morning after' pill may be approved
The Reproduction Health Development Committee is considering allowing people to use morning-after pills in a bid to prevent unprepared pregnancy.
The Royal College of Physicians will study the drug usage instruction and controlling measures before proposing the plan, which includes this measure, in 60 days for implementation later on.
Adults should realise it is difficult to prevent youths from having sex, said Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong, who chaired the committee’s meeting yesterday. He said the panel planned to use social media to educate youngsters about safe sex and where to get or buy birth control products. There would also be “teens’ health clinics” outside hospital premises with more public sector participation to provide services and information.
Disease Control Department chief Porntheo Siriwanarangsan reported that Thais needed 230 million condoms per year – but the Public Health Ministry and the National Health Security Office could afford only 40 million. Pornthep cited recent survey findings that 68 per cent of youths aged 15-24 used condoms during sex last year, while an estimated 75 per cent of labourers used condoms in 2011.
