The Minister of Health needs to call a halt to anti-abortion fear-mongering by publicly assuring women that medical abortions using the abortion pill are safe, Di Cleary of the Women's National Abortion Action Campaign said today.

Anti-abortion groups are up to their old tricks, using dishonesty and scare tactics to try to restrict New Zealand women's access to abortion services, Ms. Cleary said.

"The abortion pill (Mifegyne or RU486) has been safely used in New Zealand since 2002 and is available in eight facilities, so it is nothing new," Ms. Cleary said. "What's new is Family Planning's effort to improve access to early medical abortions."

She said that if the right-to-lifers were genuinely worried about risks and side effects, they should be asking the minister to have his department re-evaluate the drug's safety - along with that of much more dangerous medications, like Viagra and paracetamol.

"Of course, we haven't seen those kinds of campaigns from the anti-abortion enthusiasts," she said. "Sadly, nor has Tony Ryall, as Health Minister, stepped up to put a stop to the deceit by assuring women that early medical abortions are safe.