Since the emergency contraceptive Plan-B became an over the counter drug, the SCC has stopped directly supplying emergency contraception to students.  This was met with alarm in a Maroon editorial on January 25, titled “The Wrong Prescription”.

The Executive Slate met this morning with Dr. Bordenave, director of the SCC, and Celia Bergman, the Associate Dean of Students for Student Health & Administration Affairs.

The reason the SCC stopped offering emergency contraception was a budgetary and availability issue; the price nearly tripled once it was an over the counter drug.  Since the drug is widely available, students can get in at any drug store.  However, there is still an issue of paying for what tends to be an expensive drug.  The price can still be covered by some insurance plans if a student gets a prescription from the SCC and has it filled at a pharmacy.

Importantly, although emergency contraception may still work within 72 hours, the sooner it is taken, the more effective it is. Students should not wait for the SCC to open on Monday to get a prescription if they need Plan B on the weekend.

Both Dr. Bordenave and Ms. Bergman were very receptive about the possibility of continuing to offer Plan B in the SCC with a small student co-pay.  This would address the problem of availability and decrease the overall cost of the medication.