ACM welcomes improved access to reproductive choice with reduced restrictions for medical abortion announced. The expansion of health practitioners able to prescribe MS-2 Step will make a meaningful difference to women, particularly in rural and regional areas.
The Australian College of Midwives (ACM) welcomes the Therapeutic Goods Association’s (TGA) announcement to amend restrictions on prescribing and dispensing of the medical abortion pill MS-2 Step (Mifepristine and Misoprostol) to be expanded to qualified health practitioners including endorsed midwives and nurse practitioners. Restrictions on pharmacists dispensing the medication have also been lifted.
Vice President, Dr Zoe Bradfield comments ‘There are 1,200 endorsed prescribing midwives across Australia; expert primary care providers whose scope includes sexual and reproductive health. Enabling endorsed midwives to fulfil their professional scope is an important step towards improving access to medical abortion for women, particularly in rural and remote settings; the abortion deserts of this country.
Pending changes in state based legislation, this is an important step in appropriately trained and qualified endorsed midwives working to their full scope of practice.
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