Contraceptive patch available within months
A contraceptive patch for women could be available in Britain within months after winning approval from a European medical body.
The seven-day patches, which have a 99% effectiveness rate, similar to that of the Pill, have been recommended for approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
The approval must be rubber-stamped by the European Commission, but means the patches could be available on prescription within months.
An EMA spokesman said: "Our scientific committee has given the OK for this product to be approved.
"That recommendation will go to the European Commission and it will then be licensed automatically throughout the whole of the European Union."
He said the process usually took about two months and the patch, manufactured by Janssen Cilag International, the pharmaceutical side of Johnson & Johnson, would be available throughout Europe, provided there were not hold-ups with individual authorities like the NHS.
A Department of Health spokesman said: "Should the contraceptive patch be licensed in Europe we would welcome its introduction as an extra contraception choice for women."
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