Poland's lawmakers have taken a significant step towards liberalizing the country's strict reproductive laws by voting to approve over-the-counter access to the morning-after pill for individuals aged 15 and above. This move marks a departure from the previous nationalist conservative government's stance on reproductive rights.
The decision, made in the lower house, is part of the new pro-European Union government's efforts to relax the stringent anti-abortion and anti-contraception regulations that have been in place, making Poland one of Europe's toughest countries in terms of reproductive laws.
With a vote of 224-196 and one abstention in the Sejm, lawmakers have paved the way for easier access to the hormonal contraceptive known as ellaOne. Currently, the morning-after pill is only available by prescription, but this new development signals a shift towards greater reproductive freedom.
Under the previous conservative government, supported by President Andrzej Duda, reproductive laws were tightened, sparking widespread street protests. Abortion in Poland, a predominantly Roman Catholic nation, is permitted only in cases where the pregnancy poses a threat to the woman's health or life, or if it is a result of rape.
The strict legislation has had a chilling effect on healthcare providers in Poland and has tragically resulted in the deaths of women with complicated pregnancies. The new regulations around contraception still require approval from the Senate, which is anticipated to grant it, as well as from President Duda.
