In 2010-11, 49% of Children by Choice’s client contacts identified the cost of abortion as a barrier to access. In addition 21% identified geography as a problem. In 2011-12, the average travel distance for our RRR clients who received financial assistance to access abortion was 857km each way. Many health professionals and women’s health advocates hope that the TGA approval of mifepristone in 2012 for use in Australia for early medical abortion will improve access to services for Queensland women. Internationally, mifepristone has been used safely and effectively for early medical abortion up to 63 days LMP for over two decades. Best practice guidelines and international evidence show that local provision of early medical abortion is preferable rather than women having to travel large distances to access a service. Australian general practitioners who complete free online training will be able to prescribe the drug. This offers the opportunity for the provision of early medical abortion by local GPs to their patients outside of the current day hospital settings.
However, there are a number of issues such as government cost subsidisation of the drug to make it more affordable, gestational limitations, professional indemnity insurance, navigating Queensland abortion law and the development of local referral and support pathways, which need to be addressed before the availability of mifepristone can improve RRR Queensland women’s access to abortion. This presentation will also discuss some of these concerns and explore solutions.