Health Ministry on Prescription Enforcement: ‘No Interviews…Until Monday’

The debate over the enforcement of prescription requirements for certain medication is intensifying.

After issuing a release on Facebook, the Ministry of Health and Wellness declined to provide immediate clarification, stating instead that its Director of Health Services will address the issue next Monday.

According to the ministry, certain hormonal contraceptives, including birth control pills, patches, and injections, now require a doctor’s prescription. The ministry says the measure is intended to ensure patient safety, noting that these methods can have significant effects on the body and must be prescribed based on an individual’s medical history.

The ministry added that healthcare providers assess risk factors such as blood clots, stroke history, high blood pressure, smoking, migraines, and other underlying conditions before prescribing contraceptives. It also argued that the requirement does not reduce access, pointing out that prescriptions may be issued for up to 12 months, alongside broader reproductive health services during consultations.

However, the policy has drawn sharp criticism from women’s health advocates.

Joan Burke, Executive Director of the Belize Family and Life Association (BFLA), warned that the change could reverse decades of progress in reproductive health access and place vulnerable women and girls at risk.

She raised particular concern about cost, arguing that contraceptives that previously cost around $10 could now reach $85 or more once consultation fees are included, creating a potential barrier for women in rural communities and those in controlling relationships.

“Just imagine having to find $85 for a month, getting that $85 from the person who basically controls you every day,” Burke said.

Burke, whose organisation was founded in 1985 in response to rising adolescent pregnancies, cautioned that reduced access could lead to increases in teen pregnancy, maternal health complications, and unsafe abortions.

While she stressed that BFLA supports medical consultation, she opposed making prescriptions a legal requirement.

“We are not opposed to consultation. But to have it that a prescription is required, I am not in favour of that,” she said. “We are putting so many women and girls at risk by that decision.”

Burke also questioned the level of consultation behind the policy, calling for reconsideration.

“For a decision such as that to be made, I don’t know what level of consultation was done. Let’s rethink this,” she added.