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MONTREAL — The Quebec government is hoping to offer free abortion pills later this year.

“We believe women in this province do have a choice,” Health Minister Gaetan Barrette said Thursday.

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“We’ve always been in favour of women having the right to decide for themselves and today we have a new option available.”

Mifegymiso, a two-drug combination also known as RU-486, was authorized by Health Canada in July 2015 and entered the market in January. It costs about $300.

The drug isn’t currently available in Quebec, but Barrette says he’s hopeful advanced discussions with groups representing the province’s doctors and pharmacists will make access a reality by this fall.

Barrette said the abortion pill shouldn’t be confused with the morning-after pill. Alongside the surgical option, the abortion pill gives women another option, albeit under very strict guidelines.

It will be accessible for those with a doctor’s prescription, while women taking it will need to have a medical follow-up.