Nationwide 'After Pill Pharmacy Map' Updated Weekly, Free Public Access to All 13,006 Handling Pharmacies
Buzzbait Inc. has launched a free service, the 'After Pill Pharmacy Map,' visualizing pharmacies nationwide that handle emergency contraception. Launched in April 2026, it aims to resolve the issue of 'cannot find a place to buy' post-OTC availability.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 10, 2026 at 01:25
- 🔍 Collected: April 11, 2026 at 00:29 (23h 4m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 01:49 (217h 20m after Collected)
Buzzbait Inc. (Location: Tokyo) released the free service 'After Pill Pharmacy Map' in April 2026, which allows users to search for pharmacies handling emergency contraception (after-pill) all at once on a map.
Even after the OTC (Over-The-Counter) availability was realized in February 2026, voices like 'I don't know where I can buy it nearby' or 'There's no pharmacist available at night' have continued. This service was developed with the aim of resolving information disparity.
Background: OTC Availability Achieved, but the 'Cannot Find' Problem Remains
In October 2025, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare officially approved the switch of the after-pill 'Norlevo' to OTC sales. From February 2, 2026, it became available for purchase at pharmacies without a doctor's prescription. This is a significant step forward for emergency contraception, which has a time limit of 72 hours (or 120 hours under certain conditions) after sexual intercourse. However, OTC sales have certain requirements, such as 'presence of pharmacists who have completed training,' 'sales environment that respects privacy,' and 'coordination system with nearby medical institutions.' Consequently, only a limited number of pharmacies nationwide can handle it. Furthermore, even pharmacies open 24 hours a day may not have a pharmacist on duty during night hours. 'I don't know if there's a pharmacy nearby,' or 'I called and was refused' – such voices are still seen on social media even after OTC availability. In a situation with very little time, continuously searching for information can be a significant psychological and physical burden.Service Features
The 'After Pill Pharmacy Map' is a service that visualizes handling pharmacies nationwide on a map, using the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's 'List of Pharmacies etc. that can sell emergency contraception, which are 'must-guide' pharmaceuticals,' as its base data.- Supports keyword search by prefecture and pharmacy name.
- Displays each pharmacy's business hours, phone number, and address in a list.
- Marks pharmacies that allow 'proxy purchase by male partner OK' with a mark.
- Marks pharmacies that offer 'privacy consideration (private room, curtain, etc.)' with a mark.
- Automatically updates weekly by cross-referencing with the latest public data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
- No user registration or login required. Available for immediate use from smartphones.