Requirement for Pre-abortion Counselling

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Health why women who have not passed the PSLE, have no secondary education, have three or more children, or are foreigners, are not required to undergo pre-abortion counselling by a trained abortion counsellor before undergoing an abortion.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Mandatory pre-abortion and post-abortion counselling was introduced in 1987 to provide information and support to women intending to undergo abortion. The criteria reflected the main concern then.

Some of the criteria are no longer relevant and should be reviewed. The Ministry had commenced a review of this in early March this year and will consult the public in due course.