Key facts
- Australian pharmacies stocking the abortion pill MS-2 Step increased by 49% after deregulation.
- Prior to changes, GPs needed additional training to prescribe MS-2 Step; this was scrapped.
- Pharmacists no longer require special registration to dispense the drug.
- The number of pharmacies stocking MS-2 Step rose from 2,228 to 4,107 by mid-2025.
- Regional pharmacy coverage for the medication increased from 23% to 35% of postcodes.
The number of Australian pharmacies stocking an abortion pill, MS-2 Step, increased by nearly 50% following the relaxation of prescribing and dispensing regulations in 2023. Researchers from La Trobe University analyzed pharmacy ordering data and found that by mid-2025, 4,107 pharmacies stocked the medication, a rise from 2,228 before the policy changes. This represents a 49% increase.
The changes, implemented by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, removed the requirement for GPs to have additional training to prescribe the medication and scrapped the need for pharmacists to be registered to dispense it. Appropriately trained nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives also became eligible prescribers. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, indicated that these deregulatory measures improved access, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Prior to the changes, only 915 postcodes had pharmacies stocking the medication; this number grew to 1,292 postcodes by mid-2025. Regional coverage increased from 23% to 35% of postcodes, and remote area coverage nearly doubled from 12.5% to 22%. Professor Kristina Edvardsson of La Trobe University stated that this improved access means women can obtain the medication closer to home, reducing travel and stress, which is especially beneficial for disadvantaged women.
Edvardsson also noted that other studies suggest improved access to medical abortion pills is safe and can lead to a decrease in the need for surgical abortions. She indicated that Australia is moving towards a model seen in some European countries where medical abortion constitutes over 90% of all abortions. MS-2 Step, a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, can be used up to 63 days of gestation and is available under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Dr. Anna Noonan from the University of Technology Sydney highlighted that this data serves as a signal to countries with more restrictive policies, such as the US, indicating that overregulation is not beneficial. She emphasized that while work remains to improve rural and regional access, deregulation facilitates easier access, particularly for those with fewer resources. She also pointed to the "invisible work" done by healthcare providers and advocates to ensure confidential and accessible care.