Most pharmacies in British Columbia can provide the abortion pill mifepristone within days (!), but uneven access still leaves some women facing barriers to this time-sensitive medication, according to new research. The study, published 6 November 2025 in JAMA Network Open, offers the first province-wide look at pharmacy-level access to mifepristone in B.C.
Mifepristone is used for medical abortions and can be prescribed across Canada by any physician or nurse practitioner and filled at community pharmacies. Initially available only from pharmacists who had completed a training module and pharmacies registered with the manufacturer, Health Canada removed these requirements in 2017 to improve access to abortion care. The new study shows that, while access has improved dramatically, gaps remain.
“In abortion care, every day matters,” says lead author Dr. Elizabeth Nethery, postdoctoral research fellow at UBC’s faculty of pharmaceutical sciences. “The medication is approved for use up to the ninth week of pregnancy, but people usually become aware they’re pregnant at around six to seven weeks, so timely access is important to maintain and respect a person’s choice to have an abortion.”
Geography played an unexpected role: rural pharmacies performed slightly better than urban ones. The researchers theorized that in smaller communities, pharmacists often know who stocks which medications and coordinate informally. In cities, where pharmacies are more numerous but potentially less connected, callers were more likely to be told simply to “try somewhere else”. Among pharmacies unable to supply the medication within three days, only one in three offered a valid referral, meaning they directed callers to another pharmacy that could supply within the acceptable care period. Researchers say weak referral practices create unnecessary stress and inequities, especially for people in marginalized or lower-income communities.
Source: University of British Columbia
Journal reference: Nethery, E., et al. (2025). Mifepristone Access Through Community Pharmacies When Regulated as a Routine Prescription Medication. JAMA Network Open. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.42096. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2841040