ICYMI, GP clinics are now prescribing abortion drugs.

If you've booked a doctor's appointment recently, you might've noticed something different — chances are, your GP clinic now dispenses abortion drugs.

Last year, the TGA approved an application from MS Health to amend the regulations on prescribing abortion pills, allowing GPs and nurse practitioners in Australia to prescribe the abortion pill for the first time. The rules for pharmacies have also changed, meaning every chemist can also now dispense the drugs.

Watch: Maddie spent two months working inside an abortion clinic. Post continues below.

It's a ground-breaking move — and one that essentially increases the accessibility of abortion medication for women around Australia and the once-rigid restrictions as to who can dispense it.

When we spoke with Catriona Melville, Director of Clinical Excellence for MSI Australia, she said the changes meant that any pregnant person can ask for the abortion pills from their doctor if they are under nine weeks gestation. However, while every GP can prescribe the drugs, it doesn't always mean they will. 

"Any GP can prescribe them but some may have conscientious objection and will not offer this care," she added.

Prior to this, regulations meant that only medical practitioners could prescribe if they had undergone additional training, along with a special registration.

Meaning? Only a small number of GPs could actually prescribe these drugs, and nurse practitioners could not legally prescribe it. What's more, only some chemists could dispense it. This meant women were often required to go to special abortion clinics, like non-profit organisation Marie Stopes Australia, to access the abortion pill — essentially creating a barrier for women, particularly in regional areas.