EC knowledge among women of reproductive age: 10.8% (DHS 2005-06)
Contraceptive Use: No data available
Registered LNG-EC products:
- E Pills - Available over the counter without having to go through a pharmacist
- ECee2 - Available over the counter without having to go through a pharmacist
- i-pill* - Available over the counter without having to go through a pharmacist
- Pill 72* - Available over the counter without having to go through a pharmacist
- Postinor-2* - Available over the counter without having to go through a pharmacist
- Postpill - Available over the counter without having to go through a pharmacist
- Pregnon - Available over the counter without having to go through a pharmacist
- Preventol - Available over the counter without having to go through a pharmacist
- Unwanted 72 - Available over the counter without having to go through a pharmacist
Products marked with * have been approved by a stringent regulatory authority, such as the WHO Prequalification Programme, the US Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency, or other.
Where at least one type of ECP is available: Public sector clinics, Private clinics, Pharmacies, IPPF-affiliated system, Social marketing programs (eg PSI, DKT, MSI and PSIA), Community health distribution
Age restrictions for accessing ECPs: No
Legal/regulatory documents in which EC is included: National FP Norms
Pricing information: The price of EC ranges from INRs 2 to INRs 100 ($0.03 - $1.60), as of 2013.
Other relevant information: Television advertising of emergency contraceptive pills has been restricted, but ECPs are still available without a prescription. India's 2011 Essential Medicines List does not include EC.
EC distributed via IPPF outlets (5,000 - 10,000 in 2012).
In India, the lowest cadre of health workers allowed to sell/dispense ECPs in the public sector is community health workers. The lowest cadre of health workers allowed to sell/dispense ECPs in the private sector is pharmacists. (Data as of 2013.) (USAID/DELIVER, Contraceptive Security Indicators, 2013)
In 2013, EC was procured by the government. No stock-outs were reported at the central level (JSI/Deliver data).
For more information, see below: