Emergency
birth control
bill advances

It would let pharmacists
issue contraceptives

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By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com

The state Health Department was the only organization at a recent legislative hearing expressing reservations about a bill to allow pharmacists to dispense emergency contraceptives.

Legislature Directory Legislature Bills & Hawaii Revised Statutes

Deputy Director Jane Kadohiro, presenting the agency's testimony to the House Health Committee, said it supports the bill's intent but is concerned that there is not enough physician involvement.

"We would like to make sure there is a full assessment of women prior to taking contraceptives," she said.

Committee member William (Bud) Stonebraker (R, Kalama Valley-Hawaii Kai-Koko Head) said he felt the bill redefined the role of doctors and would bypass some safety measures set by society.

Proponents pointed out that pharmacists would be specially trained for the program and work collaboratively with physicians under procedures and protocols they agree upon.

The program would include ordering or performing patient assessments or laboratory tests related to drug therapy, counseling patients and health professionals and reporting information to the physician.

When emergency contraceptive drugs are used within 72 hours of unprotected sex, chances of pregnancy are reduced 75 percent to 85 percent, the Hawaii Pharmacists Association said.

Women may not be able to reach their doctors in that period to write a prescription, but pharmacists are easily accessible "after hours," in evenings and on weekends and holidays, the association said.

In 2001, Hawaii had more than 17,000 births, and 53 percent were unintended, said Nancy Partika, executive director for Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii. Women of all ages were affected, but 78 percent of unintended pregnancies occurred in teens, she said.

The coalition and other organizations held an informational session on emergency contraception last August with the Washington state pharmacist who coordinated the campaign there.

The system in Washington has helped to reduce abortions by 30 percent, saved Medicaid $22 million in costs in 1999-2000, increased women's referrals to physicians and significantly reduced the unintended-pregnancy rate, Partika said.

Rep. Helene Hale (D, Pahoa-Kalapana) said she was "amazed" at the Health Department's position on the bill. "I thought the Department of Health was set up to protect the health of people."

Kadohiro said the department is concerned about adequately assessing women before they receive emergency contraception services to protect their health.

"Certainly, it is not protecting the health of a woman if she has to go through an unintended pregnancy," Hale said.

Among others advocating the bill's passage were the Hawaii Medical Association, Board of Medical Examiners, Kaiser Permanente, Queen's Medical Center, Board of Pharmacy, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons and American Civil Liberties Union.

The bill is moving to the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee with some minor changes. A similar measure passed the House last year, but no hearings were held in the Senate.