The Dutch online abortion service Thuisabortus.nl, the first service in the Netherlands to prescribe abortion pills without requiring an in-person visit to a doctor or clinic, will be allowed to continue operating after an inspection by the Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ).

Inspectors found that the service had not fully met its duties regarding the provision of medical care. The main concern was that women generally had no personal contact with a doctor before the abortion medication was prescribed. However, the inspectorate found no serious risks to patients and therefore did not consider it necessary to suspend the service.

Following the inspection, Thuisabortus.nl changed its procedure. Every woman requesting the service is now contacted by telephone by a doctor before the medication is prescribed. The consultation covers the stage of pregnancy, possible complications, follow-up care through the woman’s own GP and available alternatives.

The service was launched in March 2026 and marked an important change in access to medical abortion in the Netherlands. GPs have been allowed to prescribe abortion pills since the beginning of 2025 after completing additional training.

When the platform was launched, Dutch professional organisations representing GPs raised concerns about whether prescribing abortion medication without a consultation met the legal duty of care. Health Minister Sophie Hermans later said that a conversation between a woman and her doctor is an essential part of careful abortion care.

Professional opinions remain divided. The Dutch association of abortion doctors said the inspection confirmed its concerns that the platform had been launched too quickly and had overlooked parts of appropriate care. The organisation is now considering developing its own digital service. At the same time, the Dutch College of General Practitioners has supported online abortion care as a useful addition and called for closer cooperation between GPs and the platform.

Another concern is how complications are handled outside normal working hours, particularly at night and during weekends.

According to Thuisabortus.nl, around 1,680 abortion pills had been prescribed through the platform since April, representing approximately one quarter of all abortion pills prescribed in the Netherlands during this period.

The inspectorate has given the service until mid-November to complete the remaining changes. The case illustrates that expanding reproductive healthcare through online services is possible, but also requires clear rules, defined responsibilities and reliable systems for ensuring continuity of care when complications or other medical needs arise.

Original source: DutchNews.nl, article in English.