By The Associated Press

National women’s and family planning groups Friday called on Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to change policy and start stocking emergency contraception pills in its pharmacies after a lawsuit by three Boston women highlighted the fact that the world’s largest retailer does not carry the “morning-after” pill.

The groups, claiming a total membership of 10 million women, said they supported the Boston lawsuit and urged Wal-Mart Chief Executive Lee Scott to stop blocking access to a legal medication.

“Wal-Mart’s actions are clearly an outrageous intrusion into the health and privacy of all U.S. women. When a doctor prescribes emergency contraception for a woman, Wal-Mart does not have the right to overrule that decision,” the joint statement said.

Signatories were the National Organization for Women, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Planned Parenthood and the National Council of Women’s Organizations, together with union-funded anti-Wal-Mart campaign group WakeUpWalmart.com.

Wal-Mart has said it does not stock the drug for business reasons because it is not commonly prescribed. But Wal-Mart indicated for the first time Friday it may be rethinking that policy.

Company spokeswoman Mona Williams said the Bentonville, Ark.-based company had not stocked the pills in the past, except where required by law, because there seemed to be less customer demand than for other medication.

“However, women’s health is a high priority for Wal-Mart, so clearly there are broader considerations and we are giving this a lot of thought,” Williams told The Associated Press.

Williams declined to elaborate when asked if that meant Wal-Mart was considering stocking the medication nationally.

Three Massachusetts women sued Wal-Mart on Wednesday, saying the retail giant violated state law by failing to stock emergency contraception pills in its pharmacies.

Wal-Mart also says its pharmacies have a policy of referring customers to a different drug store if the pharmacy doesn’t carry a certain prescription.

But the joint statement said that was a hollow gesture in many communities where Wal-Mart may be the only pharmacy for miles around.

“To be most effective, emergency contraception should be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure,” the groups said.

“No woman at risk for unintended pregnancy, be it the result of a broken condom or sexual assault, should be turned away by Wal-Mart and forced to find another pharmacy while the clock is ticking,” they said.