Obstetrics & Gynecology · Public Health · General Practice · 2 h ago
Australian Mifepristone Restrictions Lifted, Followed by Increased Pharmacy Ordering
An Australian cohort study using interrupted time-series analysis found increased pharmacy ordering of mifepristone-misoprostol after prescribing and dispensing restrictions were lifted in August 2023. By July 2025, 48.6% more pharmacies were ordering the medication than expected from the pre-policy trend, although orders do not directly measure patient access.
- Pharmacy ordering increased after prescribing and dispensing restrictions were removed.
- July 2025 ordering counts were 48.6% above the expected trend.
- Geographic gains were most pronounced in major cities.
- Orders do not directly measure dispensing or patient access.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration removed mifepristone prescribing and dispensing restrictions in August 2023 to improve access. A JAMA Network Open cohort study used interrupted time-series analysis of monthly sales data from the sole Australian distributor, covering 24 months before and 24 months after the change. Outcomes were the monthly number of pharmacies ordering mifepristone-misoprostol and the proportion of postcodes with an ordering pharmacy. The combination is approved in Australia for medication abortion through 63 days’ gestation.
Across the respective two-year periods, 2,228 pharmacies ordered the medication before the policy change and 4,107 afterward. Monthly ordering counts had already been increasing by 10 pharmacies per month. Removal of restrictions was associated with an immediate increase of 86 pharmacies (95% CI, 16–157) and acceleration by 15 additional pharmacies per month (95% CI, 10–20). By July 2025, 446 more pharmacies were ordering than expected, a 48.6% increase (95% CI, 29.2%–72.4%). Postcode coverage was 19.9% higher than expected, with changes most pronounced in major cities.
The findings suggest broader pharmacy participation following regulatory reform, potentially relevant to medication abortion provision in primary care. However, this observational analysis establishes an association rather than causation; pharmacy orders do not directly establish dispensing, treatment receipt, or equitable patient access. Assessment here is limited to the supplied abstract because the full text was unavailable.
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JAMA Network Open: Regulatory Policy Changes and Mifepristone Access Through Pharmacies in Australia ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.