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Posted 11 July 2023 PM
In a recommendation made out of session, the PBAC has cleared the way for a drastic expansion in access to medical abortion in Australia.
The decision aligns with moves by the TGA to remove strict treatment criteria which prevented health professionals, including doctors and pharmacists, from prescribing and dispensing MS-2 Step.
The restrictive arrangements in place since medical abortion became available in Australia in 2012 led to access problems, particularly for women who had limited incomes and/or lived in rural and regional areas.
"Previously, GPs have had to undertake mandatory training and register before they could provide the abortion pill, then re-register every three years. As a result, only about 10 per cent of GPs in Australia are registered to prescribe," Head of General Practice at Monash University, Professor Danielle Mazza said.
"The removal of the need for pharmacists to register to dispense mifepristone means that now all pharmacies will be able to stock and dispense this medication and women won't have to hunt around to try and find a local pharmacy that does."
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MS-2 Step (mifepristone and misoprostol) is sponsored by not-for-profit pharma, MS Health. It is indicated in females of childbearing age for the medical termination of an intrauterine pregnancy, up to 63 days of gestation.
The PBAC also recommended the inclusion of nurse practitioners as eligible prescribers.
The changes followed a Senate inquiry into universal access to reproductive healthcare.
"We welcome these changes that remove red tape and improve equitable access to healthcare for all Australians," Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney said.
"These changes recognise the importance of health practitioners that women see regularly - their GP, their nurse practitioner and their community pharmacist."
From 1 August, eligible healthcare professionals will no longer need to be registered or undertake specific training to prescribe or dispense MS-2 Step.
The TGA said the revised restrictions have led to a new warning/instruction to be included in the Product Information, which provides information about circumstances where a person should be referred to a medical practitioner.
Christine Spiteri
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