Unsafe abortion prevention added to national healthcare system

Activists protest outside parliament on Jan 25 calling for the scrapping of Sections 301-305 of the Criminal Code. Section 301 punished a woman who terminated a pregnancy herself or allowed another person to do it with up to three years in prison and/or fine of 60,000 baht. (File photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

The government has added unsafe abortion prevention services to the national healthcare system, to assist Thai women of all ages who find it necessary to terminate their pregnancy.

Deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said on Tuesday that the government was aware of the problem of unplanned or unintended pregnancies. A considerable number of pregnant women were forced to terminate their pregnancy, with the inherent danger of an unsafe abortion.