“Abortion Pill Approved in Japan: Linepharma’s Mifepristone and Misoprostol Available Up to 9 Weeks of Pregnancy”

The Japanese Ministry of Health gave the green light on Friday to the abortion pill in the country. In a notification to the health sector, it is mentioned that the pill from the British laboratory Linepharma has been approved for distribution. It will be possible to use this means up to nine weeks of pregnancy in Japan. The medical consultation, accompanied by delivery of the abortion pill, should cost around 100,000 yen, or 669 euros. Health insurance does not reimburse termination of pregnancy in Japan.

Legal abortion since 1948

Abortion is, as a reminder, legal up to 22 weeks in Japan since 1948. A surgical procedure is however the only option for resorting to abortion. Spouse or partner consent is also required for an abortion in Japan.

In December 2021, the Linepharma laboratory had applied for authorization of its abortion pill in Japan. This treatment combines two drugs: mifepristone, also called RU 486, which stops the development of pregnancy by acting on progesterone, and misoprostol, which must be ingested one or two days later, to trigger contractions and bleeding. This abortion pill method has been authorized in many countries, notably in France since 1988 and in the United States since 2000.

Towards better access to the morning after pill?

The decision of the Japanese Ministry of Health comes after the opinion of a ministerial committee and long exchanges. In addition, Japanese activists are also advocating for easier access to the morning after pill, allowing pregnancy to be prevented if it is taken within twelve hours after unprotected or poorly protected intercourse. At present, it can only be purchased with the agreement of a doctor, it is not reimbursed by health insurance and must be ingested in front of a pharmacist in order to avoid trafficking on the black market. .