Australia saw pharmacy access to an abortion pill jump nearly 50 percent after the Therapeutic Goods Administration relaxed prescribing restrictions in 2023. The number of pharmacies stocking MS-2 Step rose from 2,228 to 4,107 following the regulatory change, according to a study published Thursday in JAMA Network Open. The 2023 rule shift allowed any general practitioner to prescribe the medication, removing prior limits on who could authorize the drug. Researchers cited in the study concluded that deregulation of abortion access promotes safer and faster healthcare delivery. The findings reflect the direct impact of Australia's regulatory decision on the availability of medication abortion. The study examined the consequences of the TGA's prescribing rule changes and documented the expansion in pharmacy participation across the country. No other specific details on the research methodology, patient outcomes, geographic distribution of pharmacies, or international comparisons appeared in the available material.