Boots have taken a bit of a bashing lately for their prices, from a £50 Zoella advent calendar filled with Poundland knockoffs to charging £28.25 for emergency contraception. One of these things is more pressing than the other, despite what social media would have you think.
Now a group of 130 Labour MPs have resurrected the argument against Boots’ contraception pricing, signing a letter drafted by shadow public health minister Sharon Hodgson. In it they accuse the pharmacy chain of breaking their promise to reduce the cost.
The letter reads: ‘Given that the vast majority of your competitors have been offering women a more affordable product for a number of months, it is difficult to understand why Boots - our leading high street pharmacy, who states they have a commitment to women’s health and well-being have been unable to do so.’
The MPs also said they were ‘deeply concerned’ about the upcoming festive season, where people are more relaxed and likely to have sex. Contraception is difficult to access over this period, leading to an ‘increased number of women facing an unplanned pregnancy’.
Boots pledged to stock a cheaper version of the morning-after-pill in all stores by October back in July. Two of its main competitors – Superdrug and Tesco – had already reduced their prices to £13.50 and £13.49 respectively. As of November 2017, only 69 out of 2,500 Boots stores sell cheaper emergency contraception at £15.99.
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While Boots have claimed to be doing ‘all it can’ and that the delay stems from supply chain issues, they originally protested providing cheaper contraception. In a letter to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, they argued that they don’t want to ‘incentivise inappropriate use’ by reducing the price.
What Boots class as ‘inappropriate’ covers young girls too embarrassed to go to their GP, those whose regular methods have failed, and students and those on lower incomes who can’t afford high-cost contraception, never mind a baby. Patronising their consumers is bad enough without flaking on a half-hearted promise to make amends.
Boots now say that they are working with MPs to make emergency contraception free from all English pharmacies, as is the case in Wales and Scotland. Considering it’s already well within Boots’ power to provide it at a lower rate, it remains to be seen when this will be accomplished.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.