On Tuesday, April 18, the Observatory on Transparency in Drug Policy (OTMeds) challenged the government in a report deploring the shortage of stocks of misoprostol, a drug used in most abortions. ” Why don’t the administrations and the government respond to the concerns of the actors in the field? he asks, saying this “Deficiencies threaten abortion rights in France “. Received on the RMC set on Wednesday April 19, the Minister of Health, François Braun, wants to be reassuring. What is it really? Let’s take stock.
What is Misoprostol?
Misoprostol is an abortion pill that allows the expulsion of the embryo. In France it is used in combination with another drug, mifepristone, which increases its effectiveness and limits pain. Used in 76% of medical abortions, misoprostol is taken 36-48 hours after mifepristone. It is also consumed before unmedicated abortions.
Is there a risk of a misoprostol deficiency?
Several pharmacies have warned in recent weeks of a stock strain. So much so that family planning has been concerned about the direct consequences that a possible shortage would have on access to abortion, a particularly fragile fundamental right at a time when the world is experiencing a real setback on these issues.
On March 9, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicinesnt already underlined this situation, indicating that it would be recurring from the beginning of January. The only manufacturer, Nordic Pharma, is located in the United States and recognizes ” difficulties at the level of manufacturing sites for finished products “, as reported by our colleagues from The Espresso. Added to this is an ongoing ideological and political struggle in the United States over the potential suspension of the abortion pill, which could significantly affect delivery times.
Why this worrying situation?
In France, the vast majority of abortions are medical. On Tuesday, the High Council for Equality warned of the situation “Access to abortion risks being severely restricted, seriously undermining women’s sexual and reproductive rights “. In its latest report, the OTMeds is concerned that ” the search for solutions diverts caregivers’ time and plunges those in need of quick access into anxiety “.
But the Minister of Health ensures that the drug remains accessible everywhere, clearly marking the difference between tension and shortage, and adding that, not finding it in certain pharmacies, the centers that practice abortions have stocks in advance.
Have measures been taken to ensure its availability?
The drug agency has implemented various measures to preserve existing supplies, including a ” ban on the sale and export of medicines by wholesalers abroad ” Who “must be applied and respected until the normal availability of the medicinal product, allowing for a continuous and adequate supply of the national market », as explained by our colleagues from Info France.
The High Council for Equality has asked the French government to do so has relocated the production of the abortion pill to the territory. The latter has not yet commented on the matter.
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
