HEALTH : CONTRACEPTIVE CONCERNS: EMA TO SETTLE THE ISSUE IN SEPTEMBER.

• Position: European Medicines Agency

Under pressure from France, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is expected to publish an opinion on the health-related risks of several combined oral contraceptives (COC) in September. The EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) will give a recommendation on the Diane 35 pill mid-May, and another in July on other hormonal contraceptives authorised at EU level. Thereafter the EMA will adopt a position, which will becoming binding at EU level. This was announced by EMA Head of Patient Health Protection Unit Noel Wathion, at the EP's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee on 26 March.

Indeed, several MEPs voiced concerns about the current system, raising questions such as: Why are third and fourth generation pills still being prescribed despite knowledge that first and second generation pills are less dangerous? Why are the leaflets that come with pills different from country to country? Why isn't there a centralised authorisation system at EU level?

DIFFERENT GENERATIONS OF PILLS

There are currently two types of contraceptive pill: the...