Mainstreaming the Morning After Pill

Sure India has a reputation for being a little squeamish when it comes to frank discussions of sex, but that's not to say that the country can't be pragmatic when it needs to be. Last year after only a half hearted attack by assorted Hindu fundamentalist segments, the Ministry of Health gave the go ahead order to allow emergency contraception to be sold over the counter. One year later generic pharmaceutical companies like Banglaore based Intra-Labs have upped the ante with a broad based ad campaign to market the drug. It's a breath of fresh air after living in Madison, WI for three years where Christian fundamentalists have attempted to ban sales of the pill several times, and empowered pharmacists to opt-out of distributing emergency contraception--in at least one case, even to a rape victim.