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 at home by telemedicine in the United Kingdom. Design: A costing study Setting: United Kingdom Population: Women in 2020 undergoing early medical abortion provided by three independent abortion providers and two NHS abortion clinics. Methods: Computation of the costs of each abortion procedure and of managing failed or incomplete abortion and haemorrhage requiring blood transfusion. 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