Zambia
Legal | Abortion Pills | Local Organizations | Scam List
Abortion Laws and Policies
Overview
Abortion is permitted up to the limit of viability in case of fetal impairment, defilement or if the pregnancy endangers the woman or person's life, their mental or physical health or if there is risk of injury to the physical or mental health of any existing children of the pregnant woman. No limitation regarding the lengths of pregnancy is mentioned in the legal text
Minors under the age of 18 are required to obtain parental/ or adult/ or their legal guardians consent for an abortion., but the best interest of the minor will take precedent over that of the parents or guardian.
Penal law criminalizes women and pregnant people for doing an abortion outside of the legal conditions specified in the law. Abortion providers and any people assisting may be criminalized for an abortion outside of the legal conditions specified in the law.
Medical practitioners and providers have the right to refuse abortion services based on personal beliefs. However, they are obligated to refer individuals to another provider if they refuse service. So-called conscientious objection cannot be practiced if the life of the woman or pregnant person is at risk.
Claim your rights
Access to abortion is a fundamental human right and a basic healthcare need. If you live in a country with restrictions to abortion access, you can visit Women on Web to request abortion pills or learn more about the local support and resources available in your country.
About Abortion Pills
An abortion with pills is a safe and effective way to end a pregnancy at home. There are two ways to have an abortion with pills:
- Have an abortion with a pill called Mifepristone and another pill called Misoprostol;
- Have an abortion with the pill Misoprostol only.
You already have abortion pills? Find instructions, information around dosage, safety precautions and tips here.
Mifepristone
Mifepristone is officially registered by the country’s pharmaceutical authority.
A doctor's prescription may be required to get Mifepristone.
Mifepristone can be bought in pharmacy distribution
Misoprostol
Misoprostol is registered
There is no data available on whether Misoprostol is registered for gynecological indications (such as birth, miscarriage treatment or abortion care etc. ), or if it is registered for other purposes only (such as arthritis or gastric ulcers etc. )..
A doctor's prescription may be required to get Misoprostol.
Misoprostol can be bought in pharmacy distribution
These are brand names under which Mifepristone, Misoprostol or Combi Packs (that contain both abortion pills Mifepristone and Misoprostol) are officially distributed and/or commonly found in the country.
Brand names
Mifepristone:
no data
Misoprostol:
Cytotec; 200 mcg; Pfizer Ltd
Misoclear; 200 mcg; Acme Formulations (Pvt) Ltd, India
Combipack:
Divabo; 1 Mifepristone 200 mg, 4 Misoprostol 200 mcg; Naari Pharma Pvt Ltd; Naari Pharma Pvt Ltd
Mariprist; 1 Mifepristone 200 mg, 4 Misoprostol 200 mcg; Acme Formulations (Pvt) Ltd, India
Medabon; 1 Mifepristone 200 mg, 4 Misoprostol 200 mcg; Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
Safety notice
There are pills that contain a combination of Misoprostol and the painkiller Diclofenac. While manufactured for a different purpose they can still be used for abortion. Specific instructions need to be followed to avoid overdosing the Diclofenac.
This is the estimated cost of abortion pills in your country. Please reach out if your experience has been different from the information available here.
Cost of Abortion Pills
- no data
Local Organizations and Resources
No local organizations.
Scams
Watch out for fake abortion clinics and sellers online. See or contribute to our list of scams & stay safe!
Other Databases and Sources
These are the sources and databases used to gather the information listed on this country profile.
- 15.12.2022/WHO, Global Abortion Policies Database: https://abortion-policies.srhr.org/country/zambia/
- 08.11.2022/Medical Abortion Commodities Database: https://medab.org/search?field_brand_name_target_id=All&field_country_of_sale_target_id=188
- 08.11.2022/safe2choose: https://safe2choose.org/abortion-information/countries/zambia
- 08.11.2022/howtouseabortionpill: https://www.howtouseabortionpill.org/abortion-laws-by-country/zambia/
- National Medicine Authority: -
- National Medicine Databank: -
- 15.12.2022/Reproductive Rights Map: https://reproductiverights.org/maps/worlds-abortion-laws/?country=ZMB
- 15.15.2022/Map of Norms regarding Conscientious Objection: https://www.redaas.org.ar/conscientious-objection-map
Zambia clinics and associations
Women’s Organizations Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia Plot 4592/11
Community Comments
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