Over-the-phone abortion service offered for Australian women
Abortions will now be accessible through phone consultations in a move expected to improve the pregnancy termination process for Australian women.
Women seeking an abortion will be assessed over the phone through the Tabbot Foundation and have abortion drugs – such as RU486 – posted to them, Fairfax reports.
They would only need to seek face-to-face consultations for ultrasounds and other tests.
Reproductive Choice Australian said the tele-health service would cut the extensive cost burdens placed on women seeking abortions by more than half and provide greater access for women in regional areas.
Women would call the toll-free number – 1800 180 880 – and then referred to a local, preferably bulk-billing doctor, who would assess whether the procedure could proceed and inform the service.
Phone consultations for a range of health matters are becoming increasingly common in Australia, a Tabbot Foundation spokesman told Fairfax.
"Medical pregnancy termination through teleconference is one of the most appropriate medical conditions you can use this for because you don't have to examine the patient," he said.
"It will also mean women who might have felt intimidated going into an abortion clinic don't have to."
States that required psychological assessments of the patient will also allow this to be done over the phone.
Patients would then have a termination package posted to them, including mifepristone and misoprostol (better known as RU486), painkillers, anti-nausea drugs and prophylactic antibiotics.
The service would cost $250. According to abortion.org.au current procedures can range from $300 to nearly $1,400, depending on the state and the number of weeks.
A nurse would also be on-hand over the phone 24 hours a day through the Tabbot Foundation.
The foundation is named for Tony Abbott, the former health minister who approved RU486 in Australian after being stripped of his right to veto the drug.
Labor's Tanya Plibersek added RU486 to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in 2013, taking the cost from $800 to $12.
Pro-choice advocates are hailing the new service as a win for women who do not live in major cities or who might otherwise be unable to afford the cost of an abortion.
The service will only be available for pregnancies fewer than 63 days and for women who do not experience heavy periods as the abortion drugs can cause more severe bleeding.
Morning news break – September 5
