As per a Press Release by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (“MoHFW”) dated 17th March, 2021, the Rajya Sabha has approved the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (“Bill”) which amends the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.
The Bill expands the access of women to safe and legal abortion services on therapeutic, eugenic, humanitarian or social grounds. This is being done with a view to increase upper gestation limit for termination of pregnancy under certain conditions and to strengthen access to comprehensive abortion care, under strict conditions, without compromising service and quality of safe abortion.
The amendments will increase the ambit and access of women to safe abortion services and will ensure dignity, autonomy, confidentiality and justice for women who need to terminate pregnancy.
Key highlights of the amendments
- Enhancing the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women which would include survivors of rape, victims of incest and other vulnerable women (like differently-abled women, minors) etc.
- Opinion of only one provider will be required up to 20 weeks of gestation and of two providers for termination of pregnancy of 20-24 weeks of gestation.
- Upper gestation limit not to apply in cases of substantial foetal abnormalities diagnosed by Medical Board. The composition, functions and other details of Medical Board to be prescribed subsequently in Rules under the Act.
- Name and other particulars of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not be revealed except to a person authorised in any law for the time being in force.
- The ground of failure of contraceptive has been extended to women and her partner.
Source : Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
