The government of India is going to introduce injectable contraceptives in Medical colleges and district hospitals and will make them available for public use.

Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health said in a written reply: “Yes, the government proposes to make injectable contraceptives available to the public.

It has been decided to introduce it in a phased manner starting from medical colleges, district hospitals followed by sub-district hospitals, Community Health Centres and subsequently to Primary Health Centres”.

She also said that the government has allocated a budget of Rs 77665.45 lakhs to ensure sustained attention in quality of contraceptive care.

She said that government has made new interventions in family planning. She said that new additions have been made for contraceptive care by introducing new contraceptives like injectable contraceptives, centchroman and progesterone only pills (POP).

The proposal for introducing injectable contraceptives was approved by the Health Ministry last year. The injectable contraceptives for women will be introduced as a part of national family planning programme after recommended by Drugs technical Advisory Committee

She also added that packaging has been improved and redesigned for condoms, Oral Contraceptives (OCPs) and Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs) so that demand increases for these commodities that help in contraception.

A new 360 degree media campaign has been developed as part of other intervention for generating contraceptive demand. Sterilization compensation scheme has been enhanced in 11 high focus states.

A new scheme has been introduced for home delivery of contraceptives by ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist)  workers has been expanded to the entire country to serve the need of its customers.

Deoxy Medroxy Progesterone Acetate is the injectable drug that prevents pregnancy for three months. The injection is given into the arm or buttock muscle. The drug consists of progesterone which is a female hormone and prevents the release of eggs from the ovary.

The injectable contraceptive is supplied by the government for free of cost and this is the sixth contraceptive given by the government.

The government has already been providing five birth control options that includes female sterilization, male sterilization, Intra Unterine Device (IUD), condoms and contraceptive pills for free of cost under national family planning programme.

  Birth Control, Condoms, Contraception, Contraceptive Pills, Injectable Contraceptives, Intrauterine device, IUD, Pregnancy, Unwanted prgnancy