Virtual or hybrid provision of medication abortion (MA), which is also called no-touch or low-touch medication abortion, is one where some or all of the appointments are carried out virtually over phone and / or video by reducing or eliminating blood work and ultrasound. The purpose is to reduce patients’ risk of contracting transmissible infections (as in the case of COVID-19) or reduce the need for patients to travel long distances or wait for days or weeks to receive abortion.

As explained elsewhere, virtual and hybrid provision of MA is based on low resource availability and requires a balance between prescribers’ experience, patients’ safety and patients’ needs.

When receiving requests for virtual or hybrid medication abortion, prescribers should[7]:

• Confirm patient identity and ensure patient has privacy and safety to discuss.
• Provide written information on medication and procedural abortion in advance of the consultation.
• If not already done, ask the patient to obtain and take a qualitative urine high sensitivity pregnancy test from the pharmacy.
• Schedule a first virtual visit via telephone or video.