The move to issue girls as young as 13 the morning-after pill in some Scottish schools will not be rolled out to Tayside and Fife.
The pill is now available to girls in integral health clinics in seven schools across Dumfries and Galloway where school nurses are able to issue them to pupils on request, without their parents’ knowledge.
So far there is no plan to introduce the scheme to schools in Tayside and Fife.
The rate of underage girls falling pregnant in Dundee was nearly double the national average in 2008-10, meaning it retained the unenviable title of Scotland’s teenage pregnancy capital.
The pregnancy rate for under-16s under the age of consent was 14.4 per 1,000.
NHS Tayside executive lead for sexual health and blood borne virus Ann Eriksen confirmed access to the morning-after pill in schools is not something the board is looking at.
She said: ”We do however provide access to free emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) through the majority of community pharmacies and minor injury and illness units in Tayside.
”Whilst EHC is important in preventing unintended pregnancy, our main focus is on ensuring women have access to effective contraception, especially to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).”
A spokeswoman for NHS Fife added contraception treatment for young people is dealt with by the sexual health services.
She said: ”We do make emergency contraception available to girls aged 13 and over in an appropriate healthcare setting.
”Teenagers would be seen by trained NHS Fife staff who have an understanding about child protection issues and would assess teenagers against the Fraser guidelines to ensure that they were fully able to consent and understand the treatment they were being given.”
Carrie Lindsay, area education officer for Fife Council, said the council would always work to reduce teenage pregnancy rates with parents’ cooperation.
She said: ”While educating youngsters about sexual health is important, many other factors contribute to the problem, such as alcohol use, peer pressure and self-awareness.
”We’re trying to give teenagers across Fife a better understanding of how all these issues are linked so they can make more informed choices in their daily lives.
”We are currently piloting different approaches in Fife, and would consider the effectiveness of all options to reduce teenage pregnancies.
”However, we would always work closely with parents, young people and the community to find what best works at local level.”
A spokeswoman for Perth and Kinross Council confirmed that none of the schools in the region provide pupils with access to the morning-after pill, while Angus Council said there are no ”immediate plans” to follow Dumfries and Galloway’s move.
David Robertson, minister of St Peter’s Free Church in Dundee, condemned the move by Dumfries and Galloway and warned it sent ”the wrong message”.
”I find it most astonishing as it can be done without the knowledge of parents,” he said.