New Zealand not using abortion pill

Concerns have been raised that the abortion pill is not being used widely enough in New Zealand,...

Concerns have been raised that the abortion pill is not being used widely enough in New Zealand, accounting for less than 6% of terminations.

By contrast, the drug Mifegyne accounts for around 20% to 30% in other countries where medical abortions are available.

The Abortion Supervisory Committee (ASC) said in an annual review to Parliament that the pill should be more widely used.

"Our visits to clinics around the country have identified that many clinics lack the physical facilities and staff experience to be able to offer this option to women," the report said.

"The ASC will be working with licence holders to try to develop up-to-date services and options for all women presenting for abortion services."

Mifegyne allows women who are less than nine weeks pregnant to avoid going to hospital for abortions, which according to Abortion Law Reform Association president Dame Margaret Sparrow, is safer than surgery.

She said some clinics were able to administer the abortion pill, but because it required the consent of two doctors and two visits to clinics for patients, some were slow to adopt it. She added that a change in the law would make access easier.

Copyright © Press Association 2009