Lok Sabha Question No. 3108 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-06
Subject: Unsafe Abortions
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: S. Jothimani, Vincent H Pala, Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3108 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH DECEMBER, 2019

## UNSAFE ABORTIONS

## 3108. MS. S. JOTHIMANI: SHRI VINCENT H. PALA: SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of abortions that have been performed in a regulated medical facility during the last five years;
- (b) the estimated number of illegally performed abortions during the said period;
- (c) the measures being taken by the Government to reduce unsafe abortions outside medical facilities;
- (d) whether the Government is aware of the Lancet Global Health Report which states that the reliable information on the incid nce of induced abortion in India is lacking and official statistics and national surveys provide incomplete coverage; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the act on taken by the Government in thisregard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a): As  per  records  entered  by  the  States/UTs  in  Health  Management  and  Information System (HMIS), a total of 61,29,333 abortions have been recorded in the period from 2 -15 to till date.
- (b): Data on  the  numbers  of  illegally  performed  abortions  is  not  available  with Ministry.
- (c): Provision  of  Comprehensive  Abortion  Care  (CAC)  services  is  an  important component of RMNCAH+N program under Govt. of India.

National Health Mission (NHM), provides support to the states and UTs for various activities to promote safe abortion:

- Provision of comprehensive safe abortion services at public health facilities li PHCs/  FRUs  (DHs/  SDHs/  CHCs  etc.)  where  trained  Medical  Practitioners  are posted.
- Provision  of  funds  to  States  &  UTs  for  procurement  of  equipments  and  drug including pregnancy detection kits (for early detection of pregnancy).
- Capacity Building of Medical Officers on Safe abortion techniques.
- Capacity  Building  of  ANMs,  ASHAs  to  provide confidential  counseling  for  safe abortion, post - abortion care and post -abortion contraception.
- Provision of funds for Information Education & Communication (IEC) material viz CAC posters, Flipcharts, Leaflets, Asha/ANM booklets etc.
- Comprehensive Aborti on Care Training and Service Delivery Guideline (2010) has been revised in 2018 and issued to all the States & UTs in the country to fac quality care.
- GuidanceHandbook forASHA and  community  health  workers  on  Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) has b een developed and disseminated to the States/ UTs.
- Certification  of  private  and  NGO  sector  facilities  by  District  Level  Committe provide quality MTP services.

(d) & (e): Under MTP Rules and Regulations, 2003, monthly reporting of total number of case s of MTP   in prescribed format is mandatory which is sent from MTP sites to district authorities.

The States/UTs send compiled report on MTP cases to MoHFW on quarterly basis.

Health Management Information System (HMIS) captures the abortion related data on induced and spontaneous abortion.

National Family Health Survey captures Data on Abortion on following indicators:

- o % of pregnancies resulted in abortion
- o place of abortion
- o person who performed abortion
- o complications from abortion
- o treatment for the complications place of treatment