The PCP urgently requested a hearing in parliament with the Executive Director of the National Health Service (SNS), Fernando Araújo, on the “ongoing difficulties” in accessing Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy (IVG).
The request, released this Sunday by the communist bank, prepared by deputy João Dias, also requests the presence of the president of the Association of Hospital Administrators, Xavier Barreto.
The PCP points out that the Health Regulatory Authority’s report on access to abortion in the SNS has recently been made public, which according to the party “presents worrying conclusions from the point of view of the persistence of unacceptable problems, barriers and even disrespect for women’s rights with regard to IVG”.
“There are at least fifteen hospitals that do not guarantee access to this procedure. Some do not have a gynecology and obstetrics service, and others do not even come up with alternative solutions in a timely manner,” reads the PCP’s request.
The communist bank then emphasizes that it concluded that the law is “violated in a large number of units, with deadlines not met in at least 20% of requests.”
Still citing the Health Regulatory Authority report, the PCP indicates that 15,616 IVGs were carried out in 2022, with 1,366 situations not taking place because the legal deadline was exceeded.
“As far as procedures are concerned, in many situations, both in hospitals and health centers, there is a lack or their inadequacy, in particular to ensure timely compliance with the deadlines set by law or for referral to an entity competent for IVG,” he warns.
The PCP also highlights that 68% of abortions were performed in public hospitals, using the medical method in 98% of situations, while in recognized private institutions, the surgical method was used in 95% of situations.
For the communist bank, these data reveal “that the loss of response capacity of the SNS in all areas, especially in gynecology/obstetrics, cannot but be inextricably linked to the difficulties in accessing IVG”.
On Wednesday, the Left Bloc requested an urgent hearing in parliament of the Minister of Health, Manuel Pizarro, and the ERS on the obstacles to IVG in the SNS.
The Left Bloc, through Deputy Joana Mortágua, then emphasized that the law enshrined women’s right to decide on pregnancy and proved to be “an extremely positive policy” from a public health point of view, “which reduces the complications and mortality associated with clandestine practices were reduced” .
“Despite all this, the obstacles that the SNS places to access to IVG remain. Obstacles that are unacceptable because they call into question access to a right and because they undermine the dignity of women,” he stated.
In an interview with RTP, also on Wednesday, the Minister of Health argued that Local Health Units (ULS) should have the ability to carry out consultations to respond to IVG requests.
“We need to change the organizational model. There is currently no good reason why many health centers cannot offer consultations for voluntary termination of pregnancy,” he insisted.
Still according to Manuel Pizarro, “in the public sector, the vast majority of cases are treated with medicines and do not require the intervention of a hospital.”
“It is a case where the organization of the ULS can easily allow the IVG to be a little decentralized, bringing it closer to the people,” he added.
Source: DN
