Minister of Health denies that distribution of birth control pills to municipalities has stopped

SANTIAGO.- Before entering a cabinet council meeting called by President Michelle Bachelet at La Moneda, the Minister of Health, Soledad Barría, emphatically denied that the government administration has stopped distributing the “day after pill” through the municipalities.

“We have to make it very clear that the pill continues to be legal, the pill has to be offered in all establishments, even at health service centers in case of rape, and can be requested within the municipalities, where each mayor can decide whether they will distribute it or not”, stated Barría.

The head of Health stressed that the distribution of the emergency contraceptive is not a public policy, since it was impeded by the Constitutional Tribunal (TC), “but it is not true that we are giving orders not to distribute it to the municipalities, that is not the case”, she assured.

Additionally, Barría claimed that the municipalities can obtain the pill from pharmacies or the National Supply Center, “this is still completely in effect and they can request it with no problem”.