Girls aged 10-19 years account for 11 per cent of all births worldwide and 23 per cent of the overall burden of disease (disability- adjusted life years) due to pregnancy and childbirth, according to World Health Organisation. Fourteen percent of all unsafe abortions in low-and middle-income countries are among girls aged 15–19 years. About 2.5 million adolescents have unsafe abortions every year, and they are more seriously affected by complications than are older women.
Here in India, while it is mandatory for chemist shops to check identity proof, prescription and approval letter from a legal guardian before they sell even over-the-counter abortion pills to minors, Mirror Test Drive reveals that stores in the city do not follow these regulations. A young girl, who volunteered to be part of the test drive, visited six stores in the city but none insisted on checking the documents while one of them told her that they did not have stock of such pills.
Gynaecologists warn that self-medication can lead to complications in abortion which can also be life-threatening. “Before we prescribe abortion pills, we examine the patient properly. Only after conducting sonography and checking her haemoglobin level, do we prescribe a pill. In fact, we also keep a regular track of her health condition after she has consumed the pill,” said Dr Rajal Thaker, department of obstetrics and gynaecology, NHL Municipal Medical College.
She conducted a study in 2014 among 32 patients who visited VS Hospital for follow-up and treatment after self-medication of abortion pills. It showed that 70.20 per cent patients had incomplete abortion and surgical curettage was performed in 75.60 per cent women.
“Self-medication especially among minors can lead to complications and heavy bleeding. If a tiny portion of foetus remains in uterus, the woman will bleed continuously and if left untreated, she can die,” added Dr Thaker. Also, many minors lack adequate knowledge about the difference between abortion and contraceptive pills. So, often when an ill-informed minor gets pregnant, she could pop a contraceptive pill to abort the pregnancy which has serious consequences.
“Contraceptive pills like I-pill are to be taken with 72 hours of intercourse. But many young girls consume the pill after finding out about their pregnancy, which could be dangerous. I get several cases every year where they start bleeding profusely following complications after popping the pill without consultation,” said Dr Kamini Patel, fertility expert, Vani Hospital. She added, “It is compulsory for chemist shops to check identity proof, prescription and approval letter from a legal guardian before giving abortion pills to minors,” she added.
HG Koshia, Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, said, “Not just abortion pill, but sale of any pill to a minor without checking doctor’s prescription and age proof is illegal. We are very strict about laws and licences of stores that flout regulations are liable to be cancelled.”
MIRROR TEST DRIVE
Chandan Medical Store
Civil Hospital Campus
Documents sought: None
The young volunteer walked into the shop and asked the attendant for an abortion pill. While people at the store gave her a strange look, the shopkeeper asked her twice what she wanted to confirm the request. When she told him again that it is the abortion pill she needed, he curtly told her, “We do not keep such pills.”
Shakti Medical Store
Near Civil Hospital
Documents sought: None
The shopkeeper readily agreed to provide the abortion pill without asking for her age proof, doctor’s prescription or guardian’s approval letter. He said that he had “cheap medicines” worth “Rs 50-60” which induced abortion. Moreover, he even suggested a contraceptive I-pill, saying, “Aanathi tamaru abortion thayi jashe. (The abortion will take place with this.)”
Medical store: Gajanand Medical
Near Sardar Patel Stadium, Navrangpura
Documents sought: None
The attendants agreed to provide the pill to the volunteer without checking her identity proof and other necessary documents. In fact, when asked if the pill would have any side effects, the shop-keeper answered that the pills were safe and had absolutely no side effects. He also offered an emergency contraceptive pill Unwanted 72 as a substitute.
Medical store: Khodiyar Medical store
Opposite VS Hospital
Documents sought: None
The shopkeeper handed over two packets of abortion pills to the correspondent, who asked him if he had cheaper pills. He said he did not have anything cheaper than what he had given her. He did not check for the identity of the customer or seek a prescription.
Medical store: Royal Chemist
Place: Opposite VS Hospital
Documents sought: None
The shopkeeper seemed shocked at first when the correspondent asked for the pill. But he agreed to give the pill even though Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act states it is illegal to provide it to any teenager.
Medical store: Navkar medicines
Place: Opposite VS Hospital
Documents sought: None
When asked about the pill, the store attendant, like many others, recommended her an I-Pill. Consumption of contraceptive pills by those below 18 years of age can have serious consequences, but he was either unaware of it or more bothered about his business.
WHAT LAW SAYS:
According to the Sec 3(4-a) of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, “No pregnancy of a woman, who has not attained the age of 18 years, or who having attained the age of 18 years, is a lunatic, shall be terminated except with the consent in writing of her guardian.” Moreover, the law also says that this method can only be administered by gynaecologists and Registered Medical Practitioners (RMP) recognised for performing MTPs up to 49 days since the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP). Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) recommends close monitoring of distribution of these drugs and that the medical profession and pharmaceutical industry should exercise due diligence in the promotion and usage of drugs that are used for medical abortion.
No comments :
Post a Comment