Medical abortions are available up to nine weeks at the select GPs, while surgical abortions are available up to 16 weeks for free at the MSI Canberra clinic (pictured). Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
The ACT’s accessible abortion scheme has been expanded to include no-cost medical abortions at two Canberra general practices.
The clinics are located in Watson and Wanniassa (see General practitioners and abortion clinics) and offer early medication abortions until nine weeks gestation.
It’s part of the next phase of the government’s commitment to remove the financial barrier to Canberrans who need abortion services.
“The ACT Government is committed to ensuring that women and people who can become pregnant can be in control of and make informed decisions about their health care based on what is best for them and their circumstances,” Minister for Women Yvette Berry said.
“Nobody should ever have to choose between access to healthcare and putting food on the table. Expanding access to no-cost abortions is important in ensuring that anyone who needs to access these services can do so.”
A partnership with Women’s Health Matters brought the service to two general practices, and there is potential to expand it to other providers in the future.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said providing this service at more locations would give people more options for accessing earlier support.
“Women and people who can become pregnant should be able to make decisions about their health care without stigmatisation or financial burden,” she said.
“Access to safe, timely and free abortion services allows Canberrans to obtain appropriate, safe and timely care, and avoid potential detrimental impacts to their mental and physical health and wellbeing.”
People who access the general practice services will also be able to access pathology, imaging and pharmacy services at no cost from participating providers.
This means the entire abortion process can be provided at no cost to the individual.
No-cost medical abortions up to nine weeks and surgical abortions up to 16 weeks gestation have been available since April 2023 at MSI Australia in Civic as part of a $4.6 million, four-year initiative to provide all ACT residents, including those without a Medicare card, access to free abortion services.
Free long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) will also be offered at the time of abortion at both MSI Australia and the participating GPs.
Women’s Health Matters CEO Lauren Anthes said this was another important step in giving people a choice.
“Providing additional no-cost medical abortion options in different regions of Canberra and through different providers gives women and gender diverse people more choices over their reproductive healthcare,” she said.
“We have heard that it can be difficult to know where to go when you need a medical abortion in Canberra. Having a publicly available list of no-cost, non-judgmental and pro-choice providers will make it easier for women and gender-diverse people to find the care that they need.”
Loading ...
