- Home
- DescriptionNews
NHSO supports safe abortion
NHSO supports safe abortion
National Health Security Office supports safe abortion by introducing health benefits relevant to maternal and child health into the Universal Coverage Scheme.
During the International Safe Abortion Day on September 28, the NHSO showed support for women calling for safe abortion worldwide.
.jpg)
The NHSO secretary-general Dr Jadej Thammatacharee said that abortion had been a sensitive issue in Thai society as it is tied to local beliefs. Many people still see abortion as a sinful act.
But in reality, many women need safe abortions due to unwanted pregnancies that can cause physical and mental health problems.
When abortion was not legalized in Thailand, he said, women were forced to seek illegal abortion services that impacted their health problems and could lead to death.
In Feb last year, Thailand started legalizing abortion for women with no more than 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Doctors may consider providing abortion to those at no more than 20 weeks of pregnancy if it doesn’t affect their health.
Since the law entered into force, the NHSO began to review the health benefits relating to maternal and child health under the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) the Thai government’s tax-funded healthcare benefits covering more than 47 million people.
The NHSO added safe abortion into UCS’s benefits package which includes access to medications, Misoprostol and Mifepristone, used to bring about medical abortion. Currently, 144 health units in 23 provinces provide these medications legally.
Other benefits include manual and electric vacuum aspiration, procedures that use a vacuum source to remove an embryo or fetus through the cervix.
In the 2022 fiscal year, more than 12,500 pregnant women received safe abortion services under the UCS.
In addition to safe abortion, the UCS covers health services and medications for the prevention of unwanted pregnancy, including free family planning consultancy, condoms, oral contraceptive pills, and injectable contraceptives.
Intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants are also available for UCS beneficiaries, as well as those registered under other government healthcare schemes such as Social Secuirity Scheme and Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme.
Other benefits relevant to maternal and child health include the screening test for thalassemia and Down Syndrome for newborns and children.
The NHSO has supported civil society groups, and state and private players who put efforts to prevent adolescent pregnancy through activities, including sex education and online consultancy to avoid or handle unwanted pregnancy.
The Ministry of Public Health’s record shows that the pregnancy rate in Thai teenagers between 15 and 19 years old was 25 per 1,000 population in 2021.
The rate was 28.7 and 31 per 1,000 population in 2020 and 2019, respectively, indicating adolescent pregnancy has declined in recent years.
This may link to the roles of multi-stakeholders in preventing unwanted pregnancy and increasing access to birth control medications and devices.
National Health Security Office supports safe abortion by introducing health benefits relevant to maternal and child health into the Universal Coverage Scheme.
During the International Safe Abortion Day on September 28, the NHSO showed support for women calling for safe abortion worldwide.
The NHSO secretary-general Dr Jadej Thammatacharee said that abortion had been a sensitive issue in Thai society as it is tied to local beliefs. Many people still see abortion as a sinful act.
But in reality, many women need safe abortions due to unwanted pregnancies that can cause physical and mental health problems.
When abortion was not legalized in Thailand, he said, women were forced to seek illegal abortion services that impacted their health problems and could lead to death.
In Feb last year, Thailand started legalizing abortion for women with no more than 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Doctors may consider providing abortion to those at no more than 20 weeks of pregnancy if it doesn’t affect their health.
Since the law entered into force, the NHSO began to review the health benefits relating to maternal and child health under the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) the Thai government’s tax-funded healthcare benefits covering more than 47 million people.
The NHSO added safe abortion into UCS’s benefits package which includes access to medications, Misoprostol and Mifepristone, used to bring about medical abortion. Currently, 144 health units in 23 provinces provide these medications legally.
Other benefits include manual and electric vacuum aspiration, procedures that use a vacuum source to remove an embryo or fetus through the cervix.
In the 2022 fiscal year, more than 12,500 pregnant women received safe abortion services under the UCS.
In addition to safe abortion, the UCS covers health services and medications for the prevention of unwanted pregnancy, including free family planning consultancy, condoms, oral contraceptive pills, and injectable contraceptives.
Intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants are also available for UCS beneficiaries, as well as those registered under other government healthcare schemes such as Social Secuirity Scheme and Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme.
Other benefits relevant to maternal and child health include the screening test for thalassemia and Down Syndrome for newborns and children.
The NHSO has supported civil society groups, and state and private players who put efforts to prevent adolescent pregnancy through activities, including sex education and online consultancy to avoid or handle unwanted pregnancy.
The Ministry of Public Health’s record shows that the pregnancy rate in Thai teenagers between 15 and 19 years old was 25 per 1,000 population in 2021.
The rate was 28.7 and 31 per 1,000 population in 2020 and 2019, respectively, indicating adolescent pregnancy has declined in recent years.
This may link to the roles of multi-stakeholders in preventing unwanted pregnancy and increasing access to birth control medications and devices.
