Hungarian women voiced dismay as an amendment to abortion rules took effect on Thursday in what some see as a first step towards a tightening of access to the procedure under a deeply conservative government.
Interior Minister Sandor Pinter submitted an amendment to abortion rules this week requiring pregnant women to submit evidence from their healthcare provider of a definitive sign of life, widely interpreted as the heartbeat of a foetus, before requesting the procedure.
The number of abortions fell to about 22,000 in Hungary last year from over 90,000 in 1990 based on official statistics. However, some women interviewed by Reuters were sceptical that the amendment could further dent demand for abortions.
