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Wondering about Mifegymiso Training?
Earlier this year, the abortion drug Mifegymiso became available in BC for the first time. The two drug combination provides a non-surgical option for early abortion and is now available to pharmacists who undergo a six-hour online training program.
The College does not require pharmacy professionals to undertake additional training for the dispensing of Mifegymiso.
| Update (May 19, 2017)
While the manufacturer of Mifegymiso®, Celopharma, previously required pharmacists to complete the Medical Abortion Training Program to order the drug, training is no longer mandatory. Celopharma still encourages pharmacists to take the training provided through the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada prior to ordering the drug. See Health Canada's Health Product Risk Communication for MIFEGYMISO released on May 18, 2017 for more information. |
The Medical Abortion Training Program is intended to train health-care professionals on the safe use of Mifegymiso as well as to help facilitate the registration of trained physicians and pharmacists for the distribution of Mifegymiso. The program consists of six online modules that review scientific evidence on medical abortion and was developed collaboratively by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Canadian Pharmacists Association, and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.
According to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, as of April 2017, 143 doctors and pharmacists in BC had completed the program, with another 243 already registered to take it.
How can Mifegymiso be dispensed to patients?
In addition to online training, Celopharma also recommended that Health Canada require physicians to provide the first dose of Mifegymiso directly to the patient.
Both the College of Pharmacists of BC and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC expressed concerns that these conditions would present challenges given that most BC physicians are not legally authorized to sell and dispense medication, making it difficult for them to provide Mifegymiso to their patients.
In order to address this barrier to access, Health Canada advised that it is within the purview of a practitioner and a pharmacist to prescribe and dispense the drug in a manner that falls outside the recommended uses and conditions of use set out in the product’s label.
There are three ways Mifegymiso can be provided to patients who are prescribed the drug:
- Patients can take the prescription to a pharmacist of their choice and have the drug delivered to the physicians’ office to take, which is consistent with the product monograph, or
- Patients can take the prescription to a pharmacist of their choice and take the drug at home as directed by the physician, with no requirement to have the ingestion witnessed.
- If the prescribing physician is authorized to dispense in accordance with the College of Physicians and Surgeons standard on Sale and Dispensing of Drugs by Registrants, the drug can be sold, dispensed and taken by the patient in the physician’s office.
Links
- Medical Abortion Training Program
- Canadian Abortion Providers Support
- More information on Mifegymiso® from Health Canada
- College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC – Prescribing Mifegymiso® will require clear and concise communication between physicians, patients and pharmacists
- Dispensing Mifegymiso in BC
