Doctors paid to give contraceptive injection to teenage girls
article in the Telegraph
Extract:
"From 2010, GPs will receive the payments for encouraging their young female patients to use long-lasting methods rather than taking the pill every day.
They will be advised to tell teenagers already on oral contraceptives that the coil or implant are better at preventing pregnancies.
Ministers believe the move is necessary to help prevent unwanted teen pregnancies, as many young girls forget to take the pill.
However, the plan, announced on Thursday by Health Secretary Alan Johnson and Schools Secretary Ed Balls, has been criticised by campaigners.
They warned that the measures would lead to thousands of underage girls being given contraception without the knowledge of their parents.
Jackie Fletcher, of anti-vaccine group Jabs, said: "Giving a doctor a monetary gain to promote a product is abhorrent."
From next April, GPs will be paid for giving teenagers advice on sexual health, particularly on long-acting contraception."