CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne
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Timely access to emergency contraception has the potential to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and subsequent abortions. A public health policy initiative in British Columbia beginning in December 2000 allowed pharmacists to provide emergency contraceptives (ECs) without a prescription. We sought to determine changes in EC use after the policy was introduced and to analyze EC use with data generated by the policy. ⋯ The policy change that granted pharmacists authority to provide ECs to women without a physician's prescription did not simply expand EC availability but was associated with an overall increase in EC use in the province.