Family Planning Council has decided to apply to the Abortion Supervisory Committee for a licence to provide an Early Medical Abortion (EMA) service.

President Linda Penno says the decision by the organisation’s governing body reflects its view that Family Planning plays a key role in advocating for better services for women and where appropriate, to be offering these services itself.

“Currently, New Zealand women have inconsistent access to abortion services and in many areas, limited choice about the method of abortion they can access."

"Safe and accessible abortion services are an integral part of good reproductive health care. Applying for this licence is consistent with that philosophy of access and choice,” Ms Penno says.

EMA has made it possible to provide abortions, within the first 9 weeks of pregnancy, without surgery and outside a hospital environment. Family Planning is making the application within New Zealand’s current abortion legislation.

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