Educational Resource
Life Issues Forum article by Susan E. Wills (2006)
Life Issues Forum article, "Plan B: Winners and Losers," by Susan E. Wills, associate director for education, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities.
September 8, 2006
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved over-the-counter (OTC) sale of the “emergency contraceptive” Plan B for men and women 18 and older. To ensure medical supervision over minors’ use, those under 18 will still need a prescription for Plan B. Or will they? There will be nothing to prevent an older boyfriend, older sibling or friend of an under-age girl from buying Plan B for her. So who wins from the FDA decision? Barr Pharmaceutical, for one. It projects $38 million in Plan B sales for 2006, and double that next year.
Planned Parenthood wins. It has a sweetheart pricing arrangement with Barr through 2009, guaranteeing an average profit of over $20 per packet of Plan B. This “nonprofit” earned $15 million on Plan B sales in 2003.