Good news! The CPR, Pricing and Reimbursement Committee of AIFA, the Italian Drug Agency, has announced that the birth control pill will be free for all women of all age groups. This decision will cost 140 million euros per year. In addition, free PREP, which is pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV, was also approved. Big steps forward!
In France, the same decision was already made last year, starting from the beginning of 2022, but with an age cap, in fact the pill is free for all women up to the age of 25.
But how many women are taking the birth control pill in Italy? According to AIFA data, there are 2.5 million women taking it. Although this may seem like a large number, Dr. Paola Testori Coggi who is the chair of the Drug Agency’s pricing and reimbursement committee points out to us that: “There is a low use of contraception in Italy and this may now change.” Most women are terrified of the side effects the pill can cause, including, irregular bleeding, weight gain, acute headaches, nausea, etc.… However, it’s important to note that this method of contraception protects almost 100%, giving us the certainty that we will not experience an unwanted pregnancy.
Another factor that turns a woman away from taking the pill is definitely the price. How much does an average blister pack of birth control pills cost? Prices range from € 10 to € 25. It might seem like a derisory amount to many, but this is a monthly expense, so if we do the math, it is € 120 to € 300 each year. It’s not really that insignificant.
This news has been greeted with great enthusiasm by many except the Pro Vita who consider it a serious and dangerous choice and have pointed out the problem of denatality. Let us remember, however, that the pill can be discontinued at any time.
What do you guys think?
