Pharmacy

Pharmacists can provide abortion medication with a valid prescription. If you need an abortion, you can use our service to get a prescription. The prescription will be sent to a partner pharmacy near you. You will collect and pay for your medication there.

A Pharmacist’s Role

According to the SAPC e-note (23 December 2024), pharmacists:

• may not hinder or prevent any woman from choosing to terminate a pregnancy based on personal opinion or beliefs;
• must act in the best interests of their patients;
• must respect patients’ autonomy in making reproductive health choices;
• must perform their duties for the well-being of their patients.

The South African Pharmacy Council clarified that refusing to dispense abortion medication due to personal beliefs goes against professional rules. These rules are set out in the Code of Conduct (BN 108 of 24 October 2008), published under section 35A(b)(i) of the Pharmacy Act 53 of 1974.

This note followed reports that 40% of pharmacists in South Africa refuse to dispense abortion medication. This refusal has dire consequences. We asked the SAPC to clarify the legal position of pharmacists to deny care and highlight the important role of pharmacists in access to safe abortion.

We will continue to monitor abortion pill dispensing in pharmacies and work with pharmacy professional bodies to raise pharmacist awareness of self-managed abortion and how this option can revolutionise access and change lives.

If a pharmacist refuses to dispense mifepristone or misoprostol on personal grounds, you can report them. Use the South African Pharmacy Council’s complaints portal.