Hundreds of thousands of women use free morning-after pill service at pharmacies
A new NHS scheme in England providing free morning-after pills at pharmacies has seen significant uptake, with over 300,000 doses distributed in six months. The initiative aims to reduce barriers to emergency contraception and improve access to sexual health services.
Why it matters
The success of this program demonstrates a shift in public health delivery, moving routine sexual health services from clinics to local pharmacies to improve accessibility.
Image source, Getty Images By Michelle Roberts Digital health editor Published 28 July 2026, 01:14 BST Hundreds of thousands of women have used a new, free morning-after pill service at high street pharmacies in England, figures reveal.
The scheme launched in October to improve access and save women from having to book a GP or sexual health clinic appointment.
New NHS figures show that almost 305,000 doses were given out at pharmacies between October 2025 and March 2026.
Meanwhile, the number of women asking pharmacists about going on the regular oral contraceptive pill more than doubled, from around 50,000 to more than 115,000 in the 12 months to February 2026.
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