The Minister for Health said it was “totally and utterly unacceptable” that only 11 of the country’s 19 maternity hospitals offer abortion services, reports RTE.
Stephen Donnelly said in the Dail he is working with the Health Service Executive to increase the number from 11 to 17 this year and to include all 19 maternity hospitals by early next year.
People Before Profit-Solidarity’s Gino Keni asked the Minister when the Abortion Services Review would be released.
“It is nearly five years since the referendum and four years since the legislation was implemented. There are anomalies in the legislation, particularly around the three-day period, that has always been an obstacle to women. The 12-week limit is also an obstacle,” Deputy Kenny said, reports RTE.
He said the current law needed to be reformed to make abortion more accessible to women.
Mr Donnelly said the main focus should be on increasing the number of maternity hospitals offering abortion services.
He said just over 400 GPs are involved and the focus is on making sure there is as much access as possible.
The minister said the review would be published “very soon”, reports RTE.
Earlier this month, Mr Donnelly told RTÉ’s News at One that the review would come before Cabinet in the coming weeks.
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