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Government instructs hospitals to ensure timely access to abortion and cover costs
After the suspension of abortion consultations at Garcia de Orta Hospital, the Government demands health units ensure availability and costs at private clinics.
The Portuguese government has warned that hospitals are obligated to guarantee access to voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) within the established timeframe. This statement comes in the wake of Garcia de Orta Hospital suspending its abortion consultations and referring women to private clinics.
Ana Paula Martins stated that the costs for abortion at private clinics should be covered by the health unit that refers the patients. This situation has raised concerns about compliance with existing legislation that ensures timely access to these services.
In addition to Garcia de Orta Hospital, ULS Amadora-Seixal has also confirmed that it has been unable to provide an adequate response to women who wish to proceed with abortion, having established a protocol with another unit to mitigate the situation.
The parties PCP, PS, and BE have demanded explanations on the issue, expressing the need to clarify the responsibilities of health units regarding access to abortion services, especially in situations where care cannot be guaranteed.
The government's insistence on the responsibility of hospitals raises questions about the support and management of health services related to abortion, particularly regarding their timely execution.