Early medical abortion by telemedicine in the United Kingdom: a costing analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the potential cost savings resulting from the introduction of routine early medical abortion (EMA) at home by telemedicine in the UK.

DESIGN

A costing study.

SETTING

The UK.

POPULATION

Women in 2020 undergoing EMA provided by three independent abortion providers and two National Health Service (NHS) abortion clinics.

METHODS

Computation of the costs of each abortion procedure and of managing failed or incomplete abortion and haemorrhage requiring blood transfusion.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cost savings.

RESULTS

Overall estimated cost savings are £15.80 per abortion undertaken by independent abortion providers, representing a saving to the NHS of over £3 million per year. Limited data from NHS services resulted in an estimated average saving of £188.84 per abortion.

CONCLUSIONS

Were telemedicine EMA to become routine, an increase in the number of women eligible for medical rather than surgical abortion, and a reduction in adverse events resulting from earlier abortion, could result in significant cost savings.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Early medical abortion at home using telemedicine could save the NHS £3 million per year.