What telehealth abortion care means
Telehealth (also called telemedicine) means receiving healthcare at a distance — usually a consultation by phone or video. For abortion care, it means your consultation and assessment can begin without travelling to a clinic.
It does not mean care without a clinician. A registered healthcare professional still takes your history, assesses your situation and is responsible for the care you receive.
Who it may suit
Remote consultation can be helpful if you live far from a clinic, cannot easily take time away from work or family, or simply want to ask questions before deciding anything. Whether treatment can also be provided remotely is a separate, clinical question.
The World Health Organization notes that, in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, a medical abortion can be self-managed in whole or in part outside a health facility, provided the person has accurate information, quality medicines and support from a trained health worker if they want it. Your clinician applies this to your individual circumstances and to South African requirements.
How clinical suitability is decided
Your clinician needs to be confident about a few things before recommending care at a distance, including how far along the pregnancy is, whether there are any warning signs that need investigating, and whether you could reach in-person or emergency care if you needed it.
If any of these are uncertain, you will be advised to attend a clinic. This is not a refusal of care; it is the clinician doing their job properly.
What telehealth cannot do
A phone or video call cannot replace a physical examination or a scan when one is needed. It also cannot confirm your eligibility in advance: we do not use online questionnaires or automated tools to decide who can be treated.
After your consultation
Whatever you decide, you will know how to reach us. If you go ahead with treatment, follow-up and aftercare are part of your care. If remote care is not suitable, we will explain your in-person options, including medical abortion and surgical abortion at a clinic.