Government recognizes ‘specific cases’ of difficulty accessing voluntary abortion and promises action

On Monday, the health minister acknowledged that there are “special cases” of difficulties accessing voluntary termination of pregnancy (IGV) and assured that “corrective measures” will be taken in relation to this difficulty.

“I admit that sometimes there are times when it doesn’t work that way. [acesso eficaz à IVG]. We must intervene quickly to correct these situations and ensure that access is provided throughout the country and in all branches of the National Health Service (SNS), said Manuel Pizarro.

The holder of the Health portfolio also stated that he was ready to answer in parliament on the issue of access to the EPI on the social network: “My trip to parliament, I think, is already planned as part of the next parliamentary hearings (…), and I will be ready to answer on this about it,” he assured.

This weekend, Diário de Notícias (DN) reported that “public hospitals are violating the abortion law,” after an investigation that reported several instances of non-compliance with the law.

Manuel Pizarro stressed that “the CNA has a duty to ensure that women have access to voluntary termination of pregnancy within the framework of the law” and that “around the world, that is exactly what it has done.”

“Our results are excellent. The average waiting time is about six days, in general, EVGs are done up to seven weeks of pregnancy, which is an excellent indicator from an international point of view, more than 90% of women had to IVGs at their request to enter contraceptive programs, and these are excellent indicators,” he said.

While acknowledging that there are cases where this does not happen, the minister left guarantees that the situation will be overcome: “We are doing this work, unit by unit. In a few days, in a few weeks, we will have this to complete the examination, and in addition to the examination, we will have corrective measures.”

“Portuguese men and women have no doubts about this, everyone will have access in all places to voluntary termination of pregnancy on demand, when a woman deems it a suitable solution,” he said.

PS, IL, PAN, Livre and BE have already announced that they want to urgently hear in Parliament, in addition to the Minister of Health, Director General of Health Graço Freitas.

In 2007, a national referendum allowed women in Portugal to terminate their pregnancies up to 10 weeks in a recognized and capable facility. Prior to this, abortion was punished and criminalized.