// Boots attracts criticism for “Black Friday deal” on the morning after pill
// Women MPs called on the retailer to permanently reduce the price
// Boots reduced its Levonorgestrel medication from £15.99 to £8 for the weekend
Women MPs have reportedly called on Boots to permanently reduce the price of the morning after pill.
The MPs said pharmacies were implementing “a sexist surcharge” on emergency contraceptives.
Boots was offering a half price “Black Friday deal” on the morning after pill, which attracted a lot of criticism.
READ MORE: Boots sales driven by pharmacy demand
The health and beauty retailer reduced its Levonorgestrel medication from £15.99 to £8 for the weekend.
In a letter written by Dame Diana Johnson and signed by 26 Labour MPs – including Diane Abbott, Stella Creasey and Rosena Allin-Khan – the group asked Boots to keep the lower price, Evening Standard reported.
The group also said that the reduced price is still more expensive than purchasing the medication from some online-only retailers.
Contraception – including the daily pill, implants and condoms – is free through the NHS – but emergency contraception is not.
Boots’ offer was due to run from November 26 to 30 and was promoted with an advert which read: “Get emergency contraception if you’ve had unprotected sex and want to prevent pregnancy.
“Use the code BLACKFRIDAY50 at checkout to get 50 per cent off your order. No charge if we can’t help.”
Boots said it sometimes offers short term promotions in order to raise awareness of certain services but it is not usually possible to sustain significant discounts in the long term.
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