A regional conference on improving access to self-care interventions for abortion and family planning in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) was recently held in Moldova, bringing together experts and advocates from across the region.

During the event, Tamar Tsereteli of Gynuity Health Projects delivered a presentation highlighting evidence from clinical studies in EECA countries and beyond on de-medicalized medication abortion and self-care approaches. Among the key examples shared was a collaborative study in Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan that evaluated a telemedicine medication abortion service using medical history alone to assess eligibility. The study demonstrated the potential of no-test protocols to expand safe access in diverse settings. You can read more about this research here.

About the Conference

The two-day hybrid conference was coordinated by the Reproductive Health Training Centre (Centrul de Instruire în Domeniul Sănătății Reproductive, CIDSR). The program focused on emerging opportunities and existing gaps in self-care strategies for abortion and family planning in the region.

Around 60 experts participated in the discussions, all sharing a common commitment: to align national policies with the latest World Health Organization recommendations on self-care interventions for reproductive health.

This gathering marks an important step in strengthening collaboration across EECA and advancing evidence-based, person-centered approaches to reproductive health care.