Part of: GS Mains II – Social/Women issue; Health issue
Context:
According to a study by Foundation for Reproductive Health Services India (FRHSI)
Overregulation of drugs to curb gender-biased sex selection has hindered access to safe, legal and cost-effective abortion.
Five out of six States have been reported to have “overwhelming shortage” of abortion pills or medical abortion drugs.
The only State that seemed to be better was Assam (69.6%).
About 79% of chemists do not stock the drugs to avoid legal issues and excessive documentation requirements.
Abortion pills or Medical abortion (MA) drugs:
Abortion pills or MA drugs are abortifacients which terminate a pregnancy by expelling an embryo or foetus.
Abortion pills are different from emergency contraceptive pills (ECD).
ECD are taken 72 hours after unprotected sex to prevent an unintended pregnancy.
Major reason for shortage of drugs:
The primary reason for non-availability of MA drugs seems to be the incorrect understanding that medical abortion combipacks can be used for gender biased sex selection among regulatory officials.
A Medical abortion combipacks is indicated for use only up to nine weeks while an ultrasound can detect the sex of the fetus at 13-14 weeks’ gestation.
Do you know?
Medical abortion drugs are the most preferred method with 81 % of abortions being administered through them.
Their lack of availability hinders women, who do not wish to opt for surgical abortion methods.
In the midst of the pandemic with restricted movement clinical methods of family planning are not adequately available, there is a dire need to ensure unrestricted access to drugs.
