Last year, access to telemedicine medical abortion was suspended, despite strong evidence that it is safe and effective, and despite its critical importance for women in rural areas and other marginalized groups facing barriers to in-person care.
ASTRA Network was proud to support the advocacy for its reinstatement, including through our collective open letter with the Reproductive Health Training Center in Chisinau in February 2025, calling on Moldovan authorities to restore access to telemedicine medical abortion. The letter was signed by more than 600 experts, activists, and organizations from around the world: https://astra.org.pl/urgent-call-to-reinstate-telemedicine-medical-abortion-in-moldova/
Dr Rodica Comendant from the Reproductive Health Training Center in Chisinau underlines that this step was made possible by “sustained and coordinated advocacy by civil society organizations, healthcare professionals, and international partners.” Over the past year, advocates engaged with policymakers, provided evidence on the safety and effectiveness of telemedicine medical abortion, and highlighted the impact of the suspension on women facing barriers to in-person care.
The establishment of a dedicated working group also created an important platform for dialogue and helped ensure that evidence-based perspectives were included in discussions on national standards and policies.
For Moldova’s wider SRHR landscape, this is an important and positive development. As Dr Rodica Comendant notes, it “demonstrates that evidence-based advocacy can influence policy decisions and that decision-makers remain open to dialogue.”
At the same time, access remains limited. The current reinstatement applies only to crisis and exceptional situations, meaning that many women who could benefit from telemedicine services still do not have routine access to them.
This is why advocacy for full reinstatement must continue. As Dr Rodica Comendant emphasizes, “access to healthcare should not depend on whether a situation is officially classified as a crisis.” Women face personal, social, economic, geographic, and health-related barriers every day that can make accessing in-person abortion care difficult or impossible. For many individuals, an unintended pregnancy itself can constitute a crisis requiring timely and accessible care.
Continued advocacy is needed to ensure that telemedicine medical abortion is available whenever it is the safest and most appropriate option for the person seeking care — not only during exceptional circumstances.
This progress is a reminder that collective advocacy works. With deep appreciation and solidarity to our Moldovan members and partners — your determination made this important step possible.
