Soon, Thailand will begin allowing women with “unwanted pregnancies” (more on that in a minute) to have access to abortion pills.
Though abortion will remain criminalized under Thai law, the Medical Council of Thailand has adopted legislation that will allow some Thai women to terminate their pregnancies within nine weeks of gestation. Two types of medication will be made available for this procedure – Mifepristone and Misoprostol – both of which have been registered on the World Health Organization’s “essential drugs” list.
However, the list of women who will have access to these treatments remains conspicuously brief.
Women who have become pregnant from rape and women whose pregnancies pose a medical risk will warrant access to the medication, but that’s about it.
Proponents of the rule change argue that access to legal abortions will prove beneficial for Thai maternal health. According to the Nation, at present, illegal abortions account for as much as 14% of Thai maternal deaths. Thai women seeking abortions often turn to the internet in order to obtain abortion pills, a practice that is not only expensive, but (obviously) dangerous.
By allowing some Thai women legal access to abortion medication, the Thai medical community hopes to improve the state of Thai women’s health.
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