Abortion pill access jumps almost 50% after Australia eases restrictions for pharmacies
News Source
โขWed, 07 Oct 2026 15:00:54 GMT
๐ฐ What Happened
A new study found the number of Australian pharmacies stocking the abortion pill MS-2 Step jumped almost 50% after rules were relaxed. The count rose from 2,228 to 4,107 by mid-2025. The Therapeutic Goods Administration scrapped the restrictions in 2023. Now any GP can prescribe the medication.
๐ The Backstory
Before 2023, GPs needed extra training and registration to prescribe MS-2 Step. Pharmacists also had to be specially registered to dispense it. The changes also let trained nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives prescribe the drug. Researchers from La Trobe University compared pharmacy ordering data from two years before and after the changes. The findings were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
๐ฏ Why It Matters
Easier access means women, especially in country areas, can get safe abortion care faster and with less travel. More pharmacies stocking the pill gives people more privacy and choice.
A new study found the number of Australian pharmacies stocking the abortion pill MS-2 Step jumped almost 50% after rules were relaxed. The count rose from 2,228 to 4,107 by mid-2025. The Therapeutic Goods Administration scrapped the restrictions in 2023. Now any GP can prescribe the medication.
Before 2023, GPs needed extra training and registration to prescribe MS-2 Step. Pharmacists also had to be specially registered to dispense it. The changes also let trained nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives prescribe the drug. Researchers from La Trobe University compared pharmacy ordering data from two years before and after the changes. The findings were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
Easier access means women, especially in country areas, can get safe abortion care faster and with less travel. More pharmacies stocking the pill gives people more privacy and choice.