Why women's groups oppose injectable contraceptives

Abstract

"In the bid to meet unrealistic population control targets and as part of liberalisation policies, Indian authorities have relaxed drug regulations in order to expedite the introduction of long-acting, invasive, hazardous contraceptives into India. This will subject millions of Indian women to long-acting hormonal contraceptives such as injectables (Net En and Depo Provera) and sub-dermal implants (Norplant), likely to cause irreversible damage to their own and their progeny's health. The injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera was approved for marketing in India in 1993 without the mandatory Phase 3 trials. The American multinational Upjohn (since bought over by Pfizer) thus gained access to one of the largest markets for contraceptives without following requirements. Women's groups, health groups and human rights groups have opposed the introduction of injectables given the potential for abuse, non-completion of mandatory trials and the lack of accountability of pharmaceutical agencies. An analysis of major studies calls for a complete ban on injectable contraceptives and particularly their introduction in the public (National Family Welfare Programme) sphere."(