Mifepristone was not licensed for distribution in Australian until August 2012, and was only listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in August 2013. no drug company had successfully applied to import and distribute mifepristone in Australia. This meant that doctors wishing to use it needed to individually apply to the Therapeutic Goods Administration to be permitted to prescribe it, and needed access to an ethics committee to do so - a condition which automatically eliminates most GPs. Most doctors authorised to use mifepristone in Australia are based in hospitals or abortion clinics.
It is hoped that now a successful application to import the drug is approved by the TGA, doctors will be able to prescribe it as they do other medication and access to it will expand.
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