England to make the morning-after pill free over the counter in pharmacies

The morning-after pill is set to be made available over the counter for free in pharmacies in England this year, the UK government says.

Currently, women can get the emergency contraception pill for free from sexual health clinics run by the National Health Service (NHS) and most GP surgeries.

However, the pill can cost up to £30 ($62) at pharmacies in the UK.

Starting this year, the pill will be available for free at pharmacies, aiming to "reduce inequalities", according to a Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) statement.

The move will also help free up GPs by reducing the need for women to make appointments to access the pill, the DHSC said.

"Equal access to safe and effective contraception is crucial to women's healthcare and a cornerstone of a fair society," Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said.

This initiative is part of a wider push to improve pharmacy's services in the UK. (Reuters: Sarah Silbiger)

"Women across England face an unfair postcode lottery when seeking emergency contraception, with access varying dramatically depending on where they live," Mr Kinnock added.

The National Pharmacy Association said the announcement represented "good news for patients and pharmacies alike".

However, it made clear that the NHS "fully reimburses" pharmacies for time taken to conduct consultations required before pills can be dispensed.

The government will announce additional details on Monday local time as part of a "package of investment and reform" for community and retail pharmacies.

Other plans include offering patients suffering depression convenient support at pharmacies when they are prescribed antidepressants, and cutting red tape and bureaucracy to give patients easier access to consultations.

The government said it would also boost financial incentives for pharmacists to identify patients with undiagnosed high blood pressure.