Pharmacists can prescribe birth control pills
Starting today, pharmacists who undergo training will legally be able to prescribe and provide birth control pills to women in much the same way they already provide various vaccinations and flu shots.
The initiative is an attempt to deal with a shortage of primary care doctors, gynecologists and obstetricians in New Mexico, particularly in rural areas, as well as the large number of unintended pregnancies in the state, said Dale Tinker, executive director of the New Mexico Pharmacists Association.
The training program is expected to begin shortly, he said, adding it is still too early to determine how many pharmacists will participate.
“The key issue here is access to care in your community,” said Denicia Cadena, policy director for Young Women United, one of the community-based organizations that participated in the effort to have pharmacists prescribe birth control pills.
Read more: https://www.abqjournal.com/1015406/pharmacists-to-prescribe-birth-control.html