Morning after pill manufacturers criticised after hiking price by 150 per cent

Industry data shows the cost of Levonorgestrel has risen every month for the past year, in a move women’s health campaigners described as “concerning”. Levonorgestrel is sold under a number of different brand names, including Plan B, Ezinelle, Emerres, Levonelle and Consilient and prevents pregnancy by delaying the ovaries from releasing an egg. It is only useful within 120 hours as an emergency birth control.

In January 2017 the pill was priced to retailers at just £2.87, and by December 2017 it was up to £4.33.

Superdrug sell Ezinelle for £13.49, while Lloyds Pharmacy sells Consilient for £24.99. Industry experts say they are concerned the hiked cost may mean retailers are forced to increase their already inflated prices.

Online pharmacy Chemist-4-U.com, which offers a generic version of a branded version of the pill for £7.99 – the cheapest on the market – criticised the price hike.

Pharmacist Shamir Patel said: “These are inexpensive products to create, and yet they carry very large mark-ups when bought over the counter. Women should not be priced out of being able to buy emergency contraception, yet that is the risk that this price hike carries.

“Of course, anyone using the morning after pill should do so knowing all the facts and seek expert advice when possible.