TY - JOUR T1 - Telemedicine for medical abortion in France: a difficult challenge JF - BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health JO - BMJ Sex Reprod Health SP - 306 LP - 307 DO - 10.1136/bmjsrh-2021-201093 VL - 47 IS - 4 AU - Philippe Faucher Y1 - 2021/10/01 UR - http://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/47/4/306.abstract N2 - A recent publication in this journal highlighted the lack of coordinated policy responses across Europe towards provision of abortion care during the current COVID-19 pandemic.1 In April 2020, during the period of total confinement (‘lockdown’) decreed by the French government, exceptional legislation was introduced to facilitate the provision of medical abortion at home. Before COVID-19, medical abortion was authorised at home until 7 weeks of amenorrhea and approved providers were midwives and doctors (general practitioners and obstetricians/gynaecologists), working in private offices or in public abortion clinics. The new regulations that were introduced increased the gestational limit for medical abortion up to 9 weeks (63 days’ amenorrhea) and also authorised telemedicine for consultations.2 At the same time, a new system was introduced with community pharmacies whereby the abortion provider could send a prescription for the abortion medications (mifepristone and misoprostol) by email to a pharmacy chosen by the woman. The pharmacist could then dispense the drugs directly to the woman and the pharmacy was then reimbursed by Public Health Insurance. With the former (pre-COVID-19) model it was the provider who bought the drugs at the pharmacy and gave them directly to the woman during … ER -