Chemist + Druggist Magazine

Mondo Times editors    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 4:01pm on Thursday, September 24th, 2009

The contraceptive pill has been crowned "the greatest pharmacy innovation of the past 150 years" by leading figures in the drugs industry.

The pill eclipsed Coca-Cola, the electric light bulb and penicillin in a competition organised to celebrate Chemist+Druggist magazine's 150th birthday.

The final four inventions went head-to-head in a live debate, with top industry peers voting overwhelmingly for the contraceptive pill to win.

Locum pharmacist and Royal Pharmaceutical Society board member Lindsey Gilpin, who championed the oral contraceptive, said she was "thrilled" with the result.

She said: "The contraceptive pill has made a tremendous difference to women and their families. As a mother of one girl and two boys all I want is equality."

The Pill liberated a generation of women and inspired the free love movement of the 1960s, she said. For the first time, women had complete control over when they fell pregnant in a simple, convenient tablet, Ms Gilpin said.

The Pill inspired huge social change and kick started the free love era of the 1960s, Ms Gilpin said.

It is still one of the most effective and popular means of contraception over 40 years later, the pharmacist added.

Her arguments won over a panel of voters including senior figures at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, National Pharmacy Association, university professors and drugs manufacturers.

The pill was invented by chemist, Dr Carl Djerassi in 1951 and launched in the UK in 1961 for married women only.

The contraceptive pill ensures almost 100% protection against pregnancy by controlling hormone levels to stop ovulation.

Over 100 million women worldwide use the contraceptive pill today.

The competition marked the 150th anniversary of the award winning Chemist+Druggist magazine.