Health ministry rejects ban on contraceptives sale

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has rejected ban on the sale of pregnancy control related medication and said, the medicine could be required like any other medicine in certain condition.

Earlier, media reports claimed that the MoPH banned the sale of pregnancy control medicines.

Public Health Ministry’s Spokesperson Dr. Sharafat Zaman said pregnancy control pills and other related medication could be required at some stages like any other medicines and physicians prescribed to patients on the bases of their need.

“No decision had been made to ban the pregnancy control medicines and media reports in this regard are baseless and based on propaganda,” he said.

Zaman said according to available data there was decline maternal mortality this year comparing to past year.

“We again want the heads of media outlets to be careful when it comes to the dissemination of information and make sure their reports are based on real sources,” he said.

Ferdos, a pharmacy owner in the 17^th Municipal District of capital Kabul, told Pajhwok Afghan News that pregnancy control pills were available in the market and sold as normal.

He said: “Asodagi Condom, Viga Condom and Khoshi tablets are sold in the market as normal; I brought all these items from a wholesale market in Parwan Hotel.”

Mohammad Naeem, another pharmacy owner in Kabul’s 5^th Municipality District, told Pajhwok Afghan News that he did not receive any notice regarding ban on pregnancy control medicine.

Some other pharmacists also refused rumors regarding ban on pregnancy control medicines in the country.

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