#Healthaccess

The struggle to access contraception in the United States has become more difficult in recent years, prompting advocates in New York to devise novel solutions such as vending machines dispensing Plan B pills and other over-the-counter products on university campuses. As the national landscape of reproductive rights continues to shift—especially in the wake of clinic closures and new legal hurdles—New York’s approach offers fresh hope and urgent lessons for other regions, including Thailand, where access to reproductive healthcare is an ongoing concern.

A fresh wave of contraceptive access efforts is unfolding in New York, even as funding strains and policy shifts reshape services. At a large state university in upstate New York, emergency contraception is now available through a vending machine, helping reduce cost, stigma, and travel time. As clinics adapt to changing policies, these campus innovations provide practical models for health workers and policymakers worldwide, including Thailand, where reproductive services remain unevenly distributed.