Netherlands Launches Online Abortion Pill Service
Why this is here: The new online service aims to address barriers to access, such as travel distances for women in rural provinces like Drenthe and Friesland.
Women in the Netherlands can now order abortion pills online up to nine weeks into a pregnancy. The service, available through thuisabortus.nl, requires users to complete a questionnaire. A team of doctors will review requests within 24 hours.
Approved applicants receive the pill via free delivery to a pharmacy. Previously, only gynecologists and abortion doctors could prescribe the medication. General practitioners gained prescribing rights in January 2025, but few currently offer the service.
Peter Leusink, a GP and sexologist, stated access to abortion care isn’t universal. A study of over 130,000 women showed online abortion assistance is as safe and effective as in-person care. The Dutch Medical Doctors’ Association expressed concern over the lack of mandatory doctor consultation.