Toronto: Canada has joined India, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands in making the morning-after pill freely available over the counter.

Till now, the pill, also known as Plan B or Levonorgestrel, had been a prescription-only drug here, making it mandatory for a woman to have medical consultation before being allowed to buy it.

Pharmacists cited a lack of knowledge among users for its prescription-only sale.

However, the pill has been partially available over the counter in cases where a woman consults a pharmacist.

In its landmark decision, the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) Thursday said any woman can now walk into a pharmacy and buy the contraceptive pill.

Only India, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway allow sale of the morning-after pill without any medical consultation or prescription.

One dose of the pill currently costs about $30 (Rs.1,200) in Canada. The pill is said to have about 90 percent success rate of preventing a pregnancy if it is taken within 72 hours after sex.