2008 Woodie Awards
COSTLY CONTRACEPTION
Birth Control Prices Increase at Blumenthal Hall
ANNE P. RIVERA, OBSERVER STAFF WRITER
Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: News
With the loss of state funding, colleges and universities in New Jersey have been forced to increase prices on college tuition, housing, and health products such as birth control methods.
For years, Rutgers-Newark students relied on the university's health center at Blumenthal Hall, for reasonably priced birth control contraceptives and other prescribed drugs. University clinics distributed brand name prescription contraceptives and drugs, from pills to the NuvaRing, for no more than a couple of dollars.
"It's great that Blumenthal offers birth control for students at a very cheap price," said a female Rutgers student who wished to remain anonymous.
"The center has various options for students to choose from and in turn, it promotes safe sex for all."
Now with the new statewide budget, prices have gone up, but not to the point where students cannot afford to pay for it. The costs of birth control and other medicinal drugs are at least a half or a third off the original prices that are commonly sold at popular pharmacy stores. Various contraceptive prices sold at Blumenthal Hall range from $20-$50, depending on the type and brand the individual wants.
"It is unfortunate the prices have slightly gone up. However, we still sell contraceptives at affordable prices," said Dr. Sandra Samuels, R-N's medical director.
For example, the NuvaRing, which protects women for three consecutive weeks, now charges students approximately $50. Before the changes, the cost was only $18 at the center. Other increased contraceptive prices that have gone in effect include the contraceptive patch (Evra) and the birth control pills, which costs up to $25 per month.
"It's really sad that the state can't fund particular things such as this," said another Rutgers student. "Now, some of the students' last resort is to just purchase generic ones because they can't afford to pay expensive medicine and contraceptives."
Nonetheless, the health service at Blumenthal Hall manages to meet the students' needs by offering discounted medicine at the mini pharmacy, free tests/exams, and decently priced contraceptives.
For years, Rutgers-Newark students relied on the university's health center at Blumenthal Hall, for reasonably priced birth control contraceptives and other prescribed drugs. University clinics distributed brand name prescription contraceptives and drugs, from pills to the NuvaRing, for no more than a couple of dollars.
"It's great that Blumenthal offers birth control for students at a very cheap price," said a female Rutgers student who wished to remain anonymous.
"The center has various options for students to choose from and in turn, it promotes safe sex for all."
Now with the new statewide budget, prices have gone up, but not to the point where students cannot afford to pay for it. The costs of birth control and other medicinal drugs are at least a half or a third off the original prices that are commonly sold at popular pharmacy stores. Various contraceptive prices sold at Blumenthal Hall range from $20-$50, depending on the type and brand the individual wants.
"It is unfortunate the prices have slightly gone up. However, we still sell contraceptives at affordable prices," said Dr. Sandra Samuels, R-N's medical director.
For example, the NuvaRing, which protects women for three consecutive weeks, now charges students approximately $50. Before the changes, the cost was only $18 at the center. Other increased contraceptive prices that have gone in effect include the contraceptive patch (Evra) and the birth control pills, which costs up to $25 per month.
"It's really sad that the state can't fund particular things such as this," said another Rutgers student. "Now, some of the students' last resort is to just purchase generic ones because they can't afford to pay expensive medicine and contraceptives."
Nonetheless, the health service at Blumenthal Hall manages to meet the students' needs by offering discounted medicine at the mini pharmacy, free tests/exams, and decently priced contraceptives.
Be the first to comment on this story