Health: Doctors in call for free condoms

Condoms should be available free on the NHS from a wider variety of outlets to help combat unwanted teenage pregnancies, doctors said yesterday.

The British Medical Association said consideration should be given to handing out free condoms in chemist's shops because teenagers tend to avoid GP surgeries for contraceptive advice and men don't like going to family planning clinics, where condoms are already available free. A spokesman said the additional cost was balanced by the enormous cost to the NHS of unwanted pregnancies.The BMA recommendation is made in its evidence to a government committee reviewing prescription procedure and the supply of medicines.