"A bill that introduces unhealthy, sick and dangerous rules for children, I will not sign" — the president commented on the Amendment of the Pharmaceutical Law, which would let the acquisition of the pill "day after" from 15 years of age in a conversation with TVN24.
During president Andrzej Duda's authoritative visit to the United States, he was accompanied by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Both leaders attended a gathering with US president Joe Biden. "It is no secret that I am from a different political camp than Donald Tusk. But safety is out of the way. What we did was show that these things are beyond divisions.
“the president said in an interview after gathering Biden in the White House.
Let it happen with the approval of your mother, your father.
When asked about interior issues, Andrzej Duda stated that he did not intend to sign the bill adopted by Parliament, which would let the acquisition of the tablet “day after” without a prescription. He expressed his opinion that allowing access to this pill without a prescription from the age of 15 would be an exaggeration.
"I don't head this pill being on the Polish marketplace and being available. It is available on a reasonable basis, on prescription, its availability is completely free," the president pointed out. “I don’t head a girl taking a pill like this if necessary, but let it be the decision of the parent. Let this happen with the approval of the mother, the father, not that the girl would buy herself a pill and, in case of emergency, took 5 at a time.”
What do Poles think about the “day after” pill?
The amendment of the Pharmaceutical Law, which the legislature supported last week, provides for the availability of 1 of the hormonal contraceptives, i.e. ulipristal acetate, for people over 15 years old. The tablet with this ingredient (ellaOne) can be taken up to 120 hours after co-administration. Since July 2017, alleged "day after" tablets in Poland are available only on prescription, which many people believe is simply a regulation on women's rights. In any cases, seeking a prescription for a pill may exceed the prescribed time erstwhile it is effective.
Poles have spoken out in the full case. In a fresh poll commissioned by RMF FM and the diary of Legal Newspaper, respondents answered the question: "What should the president do with the pill bill day after?’.
According to United Surveys' survey on 8-10 March 2024 on a example of 1,000 people, 50.4% of respondents stated that the president should sign the bill. In addition, another 11.2% voted in favour of signing, but believes that after the President's approval, the bill should be transferred to the Constitutional Court. 25.8% said the president would have done the right thing if he hadn't signed the bill. On the another hand, 6.3% of the respondents indicated that Duda should refuse to sign and send the bill to the Constitutional Court. A akin number of respondents were the group that selected the consequence "I don't know/hard to say" – 6.2%.
