University Health Center staff will not prescribe the abortion pill RU-486 to students, UHC administrators said Thursday.

The pill, also known by the trade name Mifeprex, was approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration last Thursday, following a 12-year debate.

UHC Director Jacquelyn Kinder said training and equipment costs, as well as a desire to adhere to the health center’s mission, were the major issues in the decision not to provide Mifeprex.

"This college health care center has as its mission to provide primary health care on an out-patient basis that serves students in a cost-effective manner," Kinder said.

According to an FDA news release, physicians who prescribe Mifeprex to patients are required to provide surgical intervention in cases of incomplete abortion or severe bleeding.

Since the health center is not a 24-hour health care facility and cannot provide the necessary surgical procedures in the event of complications, a total revamping of the health center, including an increase in cost to students, would be necessary to offer Mifeprex, Kinder said.

"It would be a major change for the health center to (offer Mifeprex)," Kinder said.

"We just really do not have the resources to provide it in a way that would be medically safe and address the full range of needs that a student may have who is prescribed Mifeprex," she said.

The criteria used in the administrative staff’s evaluation were the same criteria used in the decision not to offer other invasive surgical procedures, such as breast tumor biopsies, Kinder said.

Kinder said she was not aware of any other college health center that performs such surgeries.

"Invasive procedures are not part of the scope of services of college health centers," Kinder said. "It’s highly unlikely that any (health center) would."

Although Kinder said the health center anticipates making referrals for students seeking Mifeprex in the future, no clear policy has been established thus far regarding how referrals of the drug will be handled.

In general, for physicians to be referred by the health center staff, they must meet several requirements, including board certification and complete provision of necessary medical care, which may require an on-site visit by health center staff for verification, Kinder said.

At present, health center staff usually refer students who choose to terminate a pregnancy to physicians in the Atlanta area.

Kinder said the health center staff does not know of a physician in the Athens area who would work with a woman to terminate a pregnancy, nor does it know of a local physician who will administer Mifeprex.

Due to the recency of the FDA’s approval of Mifeprex, the health center’s medical staff also is unable to anticipate when area physicians will start prescribing the drug.

"The medical community in general was caught off guard in terms of being asked to deal with the ramifications of the FDA’s decision," Kinder said.

The research and experiences other countries have had with Mifeprex proves a successful outcome for women seeking to terminate a pregnancy, Kinder said.

"They’ve found it to be a good alternative to surgical intervention," Kinder said.

UHC Communications Coordinator Liz Rachun said the first concern of the health center is providing students health care.

"We’re here to provide students with the information to make healthy choices and to keep health issues from becoming an obstacle to academic success," Rachun said.