Russia’s Ministry of Health announced Tuesday that it will be restricting abortion pill access from September 1, 2024 through 2030.
Under the new restriction, a doctor’s prescription will be required to obtain the abortion pill drugs mifepristone and misoprostol at a pharmacy. Pharmacies and hospitals wishing to dispense the abortion pill must also have a special license, and they must report how many pills they have sold.
This is a significant change from the current law, which allows women to get abortion pills for free from any pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription.
According to The Moscow Times, the Health Ministry previously suggested restricting abortion pill sales in July, noting that taking the abortion pill without a doctor’s oversight can lead to a greater risk of complications, especially in cases of ectopic pregnancy. Live Action News has shared many of the risks and complications that come with taking the abortion pill, including the death of an Indian woman who died because she took the pill with an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy.
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko has also mentioned the need for restrictions due to the “abuse” of abortion pill distribution. Data released in August revealed that distribution had reached an all-time high, with 1.4 million drugs sold in 2022, a 60% increase from 2021. Despite the soaring sales, government data also shows that abortion rates actually dropped — a contradiction some experts attribute to people wanting to stock up in case of greater government oversight.
In addition to mitigating the risks, Murashko’s attempt to stymie abortion pill use is also likely due in part to the country’s demographic crisis. The country’s leaders have previously indicated that reducing the abortion rates, which were among some of the highest in the world, would be one of its key policy strategies for fighting the declining population.
“Reducing abortion rates is a key task that we are working on,” Murashko told a meeting of lawmakers in July.
