The rule that GPs must retake a three-hour training course every three years to prescribe abortion drugs is being scrapped, along with mandatory registration for prescribers and dispensers.

The TGA says any health practitioner with “appropriate” skills and training will be allowed to prescribe MS-2 Step (mifepristone and misoprostol) from 1 August without drug sponsor MS Health certifying their training every three years.

This could include nurse practitioners, although the rules on who can prescribe or assist abortion procedures vary between jurisdictions and will potentially require states or territories to change legislation.

The PBAC has also recommended moving the drugs from telephone authority listing to streamlined authority listing.