Trinidad Jiménez, Minister for Health and Social Policy, announced today that the 'morning-after pill' would soon be available over the counter at pharmacies with no minimum age-limit attached.

The measure, that will come into operation in about three months' time, is part of the Sexual and Reproductive Health strategy being drawn up in conjunction with the Ministry of Equality and is aimed at reducing unwanted pregnancies and abortions.
 
The sale of the morning-after pill in other countries like France, Belgium, the UK, Denmark, Luxembourg and the USA has led to a 'significant' drop in the number of unwanted pregnancies, Jiménez told the press.

The minister also pointed out that in 2007, 112,000 abortions were performed in Spain, 6,000 of which were on women under the age of 18, that over 4,000 children were born to under-age women and that in total 10,500 women under 18 fell pregnant.  In addition, 500 girls under the age of 15 had abortions.

According to Jiménez, these figures show that 'there is a problem' here in Spain and that society should listen to the 'cry for attention'.

She did, however, insist that the morning-after pill was an 'emergency measure' and not to be treated as a habitual method of contraception.

The pill, which is already available in hospitals and family-planning clinics in eight autonomous communities, will soon be available in pharmacies across the country at a cost of about 20€.