Regional Victorians to get easier access to abortion medication

Women in regional Victoria will get easier access to medical abortions after “outdated” rules were repealed by Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas.

Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said women in regional Victoria would have easier access to abortion. Picture: NewsWire / Tony Gough

Women in regional Victoria will get easier access to medical abortions after the Allan government expanded the number of medications which midwives are allowed to prescribe.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said she had repealed the “outdated” list which would mean that women would be able to get the medication they needed sooner and reduce their trips to a GP.

Now midwives will able to write scripts to help women with a range of pregnancy conditions such as heartburn, acid reflux, bacterial vaginosis and pain relief.

She said allowing midwives to also prescribe medication for a woman to terminate a pregnancy would improve access to medical abortions in regional Victoria.

“These reforms are all about making it easier and safer for women to get the care they need, including access to medical abortion, particularly for women in regional and rural Victoria,” she said.

“These changes recognise the skill and professionalism of our authorised midwives.”

The change, which was done through a ministerial approval, will apply to authorised midwives with at least three years of experience in full-time clinical practice who have undertaken graduate education and training.

Ms Thomas said midwives played a critical role in Victoria’s health system, caring for women and their babies through pregnancy and labour.