Controversial Plan B® To Be Sold Here
Plan B® - the day after pill could soon be sold in Costa Rica according to the Ministra de Salud (Health Minister), Dr. María Luisa Avila.

The Hungarian pharmaceutical Richter made an application to the office of the Registros y Controles del Ministerio de Salud (register and controls unit of the Health ministry) some six weeks ago and could receive the OK within three to six months, said minister Avila.

'The company wants to sell the pill in the country and there is no legal limitations to impede it. All it has to do is pass the controls. There is no prohibition against it", said Avila.

The news did not sit well with the Catholic church. Monseñor José Francisco Ullosa said that the pill is abortive and as such unconstitutional.

Pablo Guerén, a spokesperson for the Ministro de la Presidencia, Rodrigo Arias, said that the minister will not comment on the subject and that the position of the Health minister is the official government position.

The Health minister expanded on her point of view, saying that  the pill is not a method of family planning and is an emergency contraceptive and not abortive.

Plan B® is the only FDA-approved emergency contraceptive (EC) composed of progestin-only tablets that helps prevent pregnancy after contraceptive failure, unprotected sex, or sexual assault.

Plan B® reduces the risk of pregnancy by up to 89% when taken within 72 hours after contraceptive failure or unprotected sex. However, Plan B® is more effective the sooner it is taken, especially within the first 24 hours of unprotected sex.