Starting as early as next spring, emergency contraceptive pills to prevent unwanted pregnancies will be available at pharmacies in Japan without a doctor's prescription. It is crucial to craft an environment in which women in need of such drugs can quickly access them.

The pills inhibit ovulation and, when taken within 72 hours after sex, there is an 80% probability they will prevent pregnancy. The World Health Organization has recommended a system allowing prescription-free purchases of the pills from the perspective of protecting the rights of women, and approximately 90 countries and regions have been selling the drugs over the counter.

While emergency contraceptives were approved in Japan in 2011, an examination at a medical institution has been required to take the pills.

Starting in the fall of 2023, trial sales of the drugs without prescriptions started at some pharmacies in Japan, and so far, no major issues have been reported. An expert panel of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has accordingly green-lighted commercial sales of the pills.

Requirements for over-the-counter sales of the drugs will be relaxed compared to during the trial sales period, with no age limit and no parental consent needed. Victims of sexual violence require a swift response. It is appropriate that Japan has developed a system enabling women, including minors, to speedily access the pills.

However, only trained pharmacists will be allowed to sell the drugs, and no online sales will be permitted. The rules for trial sales, where customers are asked to take the pills in front of pharmacists, will be retained. This is said to be aimed at preventing purchases by third parties posing as those in need.

That said, if the rules make women hesitant to purchase the pills, it will diminish the significance of over-the-counter sales. Pharmacies need to thoroughly ensure people's privacy is protected through measures such as setting up booths for them to take the pills. If women still feel psychologically burdened, the ministry should consider reviewing the rules.

The hefty price of the pills -- around 10,000 to 15,000 yen (approx. $67 to $101) each -- also poses a hurdle. In many countries, the pills are less than 5,000 yen (about $33) each, with public subsidies available for young people in some cases to provide the pills free of charge.

Outside Japan, low-dose birth control pills are widely available, and oral medication is broadly adopted for artificial abortions.

In Japan, however, birth control measures have depended mainly on condoms, which are not 100% reliable, and low-dose pills are not commercially available. Furthermore, abortions are predominantly carried out by surgery, which takes a heavy toll on women.

It is essential to ensure a perspective where women make their own decisions about their bodies, including pregnancy and childbirth. The government and the medical community are urged to endeavor to further increase options for women.

Editorial: As stores prepare to sell morning-after pills, Japan must meet women's needs