Japan has approved the MeFeego Pack, the country's first abortion pill, in a major move for reproductive rights. The pharmaceutical board of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare granted approval on Friday to the medication, which is manufactured by British pharmaceutical Linepharma. The medication consists of two types of pill and can be used within nine weeks of pregnancy. In a clinical trial in Japan, 93% of participants had a complete abortion within 24 hours, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK. The medication combines mifepristone and misoprostol, which the World Health Organization has included in its Essential Medicines List, describing it as safe and effective for pregnant people.
To date, only surgical abortion is available in Japan through two methods: the curettage method, which removes tissue inside the uterus with a metal instrument, and the evacuation method, which sucks out tissue through a tube, according to NHK. However, the WHO has described curettage as an "obsolete" method that is less safe and much more painful, and has called for it to be replaced by the evacuation method or by medication like abortion pills.
The approval of MeFeego Pack is a significant step forward for reproductive rights in Japan. Japanese activists have been campaigning for the approval of abortion pills for years, with similar medications made available decades ago in other countries. For instance, mifepristone was first approved in France in 1988 and in the US in 2000. Kanako Inaba, an obstetrician and gynecologist, celebrated the decision on Twitter, stating that it was an opportunity to spread greater sex education and awareness about contraceptive methods.
However, some experts pointed out the long road ahead for reproductive rights in Japan. Mihyon Song, a well-known Japanese obstetrician and gynecologist, highlighted Japan's controversial abortion laws, which require spousal consent, denying women the right to make decisions about their own bodies. Under Japan's existing laws, women can only receive an abortion if a pregnancy "may significantly damage the person's physical health due to bodily or economic reasons" or if they became pregnant due to rape.
The approval of the MeFeego Pack also comes at a time of renewed attention to abortion and reproductive rights globally. Last year, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ruling that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to an abortion. Since then, a number of US states have restricted access to abortions, while others moved to increase access.