New abortion pill rollout hits regulatory snag in B.C.

A controversial new abortion pill being rolled out across the country is already running into regulatory problems in British Columbia.

Doctors across Canadacan now prescribe the home abortion pillMifegymiso, more commonly known as RU-486,butthe drug isn't expected tobe available in Canada until the fall.

Mifegymisocan be used to terminate a pregnancy up to 49 days after conception.

Health Canada has set a number of special rules for the drug, including requiring doctors to take an online course before they can prescribe it.

But one of the biggest issues in B.C. is, unlike with most drugs,Health Canada's rules requiredoctors dispense the drug to patients themselves.

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'Serious concerns'

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. saysdoctors in the provincearen't allowed to dispense drugs directly to patients except in special circumstances for example, when working in rural areas where there areno pharmacies available.

"The College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. has serious concerns about Health Canada's decision regarding physician-only dispensing of Mifegymiso, and is advocating for the conventional method of pharmacist dispensing," said a college spokesperson in an email.

Dr. Wendy Norman withUBC'sSchool of Population and Public Health said family physicians and gynecologists across the country have been "loud and clear" about their inability to coordinate buying, sellingand maintaining stock of the drug in their offices.

"It's an absolutely inexplicable regulation that's against all of the progress in safety that we've made for drug prescriptions," Norman said.

Health Canada urges caution

Federal Health Minister Jane Philpottsaid she has heard the complaints, and the guidelines may be adjusted but notuntil after an initial trial period.

"We are committed to making sure that this medication is accessible," said Philpott.

"But with any medication, particularly new ones, it is important that the prescribers have the appropriate competence, that they are well-informed as to the nature of the medication, and what it's effectively to be used for, what concerns to watch out for."

Dr. EllenWiebe, medical director of Vancouver's Willow Women's Clinic, questions Health Canada's logic.

"That doesn't make any sense because this is a 20-year-old drug that has been used millions of times safely across the world.Why would Canadians be any different?" she said.

She said doctors in B.C. aren't generally allowed to dispense drugs because the province has determined thatmost medications are better monitored through the B.C. PharmaNet system used by pharmacists.

TheCollege of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. saidit wouldbe meeting with the colleges of pharmacists and registered nurses, and the B.C.HealthMinistryto discuss provincial solutions.