Reimagining medical abortion in Australia: what do we need to do to meet women’s needs and ensure ongoing access?

Danielle Mazza
Med J Aust 2023; 218 (11): 496-498. || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51979
19 June 2023

There is much to be done to make high quality, accessible medical abortion a reality in Australia

The overturning of Roe v Wade in the United States has renewed impetus in Australia to ensure the availability of high quality, accessible abortion services. But decriminalisation and the availability of medical abortion do not in and of themselves mandate service delivery or ensure access. Numerous barriers continue to exist. These include issues such as inconsistent abortion laws, over‐regulation, lack of regional level planning and accountability for service delivery, sparse and inconsistent services across the country, inadequate numbers of skilled providers, a lack of training opportunities for the current and future workforce, and consumer concerns such as high costs and difficulty navigating services.

Continued: https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2023/218/11/reimagining-medical-abortion-australia-what-do-we-need-do-meet-womens-needs-and

Canada – Rising use of abortion pill shifting the landscape, expert says

Medical abortions now outnumber surgical abortions 2-1 in province

Jacques Poitras · CBC News
May 31, 2023

The increased accessibility of the so-called "abortion pill" in New Brunswick is dramatically changing the reproductive-rights landscape and shifting the terms of the debate, according to an assistant professor at the University of New Brunswick.

Medical abortions, induced by medication, now outnumber surgical abortions by more than two to one, according to new provincial data collected by Martha Paynter, a teacher and researcher in the faculty of nursing.

Continued: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/abortion-pill-expert-1.6859533

31.05.2023

New Brunswick Abortion Care Network

‘Simpler and safer’: Medical abortion becomes legal in Lithuania

Goda Malinauskaitė, LRT TV, LRT.lt
january 2, 2023

Medical abortion becomes legal in Lithuania as of January. Women wishing to terminate pregnancy medically will be able to do so until the ninth week of pregnancy.

Those opting for medical abortion will first need to consult with an obstetrician-gynaecologist.

“First, the doctor must provide all the information related to the procedure. If the patient decides to terminate the pregnancy medically, the doctor prescribes a prescription medicine,” Inga Cechanovičienė, a spokesperson for the Health Ministry, told LRT TV.

Continued: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1857115/simpler-and-safer-medical-abortion-becomes-legal-in-lithuania

02.01.2023

Virgilijus Rudzinskas

Vytautas Klimas

World Federation of Doctors who Respect Human Life

Is ‘listening’ enough? Feminists assess Robredo’s conservative stand on gender issues

Vice President Leni Robredo, presidential candidate, has fallen short of supporting some progressive causes that gender advocates have long fought for, but some are willing to bank on her track record of consulting and listening

MAR 23, 2022
MICHELLE ABAD

MANILA, Philippines – Lone female presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo has disappointed some of the women she claims to empower.

As media interviews, debates, and forums went into full swing with the election season, the presidential candidates were asked what they thought about divorce, abortion, and same-sex marriage – three issues the country is deeply divided about.

Continued: https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/feminists-assess-robredo-conservative-gender-stance/

India – Medical Abortion Pills: The Paradox Among Chemists

Byreport-wire
Feb 6, 2022

‘Girls just want to have FUNdamental rights.’

We have come a long way concerning women’s rights, yet there is a long way to go. Women’s rights are not just inclusive of abolishing gender pay gap, equal opportunities in the workspace and freedom from discrimination. The umbrella term also shelters health management.

Women empowerment cannot progress without access to reproductive control and health. At this point, enters the boiling topic of Abortion. Whether you are pro-choice or pro-life, it is a fact that abortion is a healthcare need. India, as a developing country, recognised the need for reproductive justice for women close to forty-eight years back, when abortion was legalised. However, a different tone of this concept has unveiled recently that limits women’s right to reproductive health.

Continued: https://reportwire.org/2022/02/06/medical-abortion-pills-the-paradox-among-chemists/

06.02.2022

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Opinion

chemists not stocking abortion pills

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Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act

India – The Challenges Of Accessing Self-Managed Abortions During COVID-19

By Pragati Parihar
November 16, 2021

In the context of restrictions brought about by COVID-19 and Texas’ six-week abortion laws, the access to safe reproductive and sexual health choices has been brought back again to global focus. Apart from the traditional beliefs and legal norms concerning abortions, the different methods of abortion have also come to be an integral part of the discussion.

Self-managed abortions, also known as abortion by pills or medical abortions, is seen as one of the most effective ways to end an unintended pregnancy, even in countries with strict abortion laws. Self-managed abortions are defined as self-sourcing of abortion pills, outside of the clinical environment. It could be done from the comfort of one’s home or anywhere else that’s convenient to the abortion seeker.

Continued: https://feminisminindia.com/2021/11/16/self-managed-abortions-covid-19-challenges/

Mahisagar: Police launch probe after video of illegal abortion surfaces

In the complaint to the police, CDHO Dr Swapnil Shah and Medical Superintendent Dr JK Patel said that during a visit to the house in order to investigate the video, the teams found two strips of a tablet that is allegedly used to induce an abortion.

By: Express News Service | Vadodara |
July 18, 2021

Accordingly, the Santrampur police station has begun an investigation into the case, lodging an FIR based on the sections cited in the letter from the district authorities.

The Mahisagar district police have launched a probe after a video surfaced showing a woman allegedly conducting a medical termination of pregnancy in her private residence with help of three other women.

Continued: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/baroda/mahisagar-police-launch-probe-after-video-of-illegal-abortion-surfaces-7409928/

18.07.2021

Medical Practitioner Act

Health Canada deflects complaints about ads for ‘abortion-pill reversal’

Medical groups have condemned the treatment as unproven and potentially unsafe, but Alliance for Life argues there is good evidence reversal works and is safe

Tom Blackwell, National Post
Jul 07, 2021

Health Canada has essentially rejected two complaints about an anti-abortion group promoting a controversial process to “reverse” medical abortions, as the niche issue earns growing attention from both sides in the heated abortion debate.

The matter is one for provincial regulators to tackle, said federal officials this week after deciding to take no action on the advertising grievances.

Continued: https://nationalpost.com/health/health-canada-deflects-complaints-about-ads-for-abortion-pill-reversal

New evidence-based learning on abortions in India

This will not only significantly increase the options for women seeking abortion services but also leverage the potential of medical abortion technology.

By IANS
Published: 10th Jun 2021

New Delhi: Abortion in India continues to face high levels of stigma — this stigma pushes women who seek it away from legal services; curtails free dissemination of information on abortion; and affects the delivery of essential services in the public health system.

Consequently, millions of women prefer not to go to public health facilities for abortion services. It is estimated that 78 per cent of the 15.6 million abortions that take place each year in India occur in non-facility settings, mainly through medical abortion pills.

Continued: https://telanganatoday.com/new-evidence-based-learning-on-abortions-in-india

Hyundai Pharm to supply abortion pill Mifegyne in Korea

기자명 Kim Chan-hyuk
Published 2021.03.03

Hyundai Pharm made it official that it will supply Mifegyne, an abortive drug, in Korea. Industry watchers said the supply could open ways for medication abortion.

However, as the company is preparing for the regulator’s preliminary review before seeking the nod, it will take a considerable time until a pregnant woman gets a Mifegyne prescription, observers said.

Continued: http://www.koreabiomed.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=10578

03.03.2021