Introduction
When it comes to abortions in India, there is bound to be a difference in opinion based on caste, culture, ethical beliefs, and much more. While some women might prefer home remedies for abortion, it is always recommended to seek medical help.
Abortion is essentially a woman’s right. If you are contemplating an abortion and thinking about the right way to go about it, you have come to the right place to know all about it! One can also learn about Ayushman Bharat card download to find out about the facility provided under this scheme for abortions and related services.
About Ayushman Bharat
Ayushman Bharat is a comprehensive National Health Protection Scheme providing healthcare coverage to over ten crore poor and vulnerable families, benefiting approximately 50 crore individuals.
The coverage under Ayushman Bharat provides financial aid of up to 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. It integrates several pre-existing centrally sponsored schemes like Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and the Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS).
Through this, Ayushman Bharat aims to revolutionise healthcare accessibility in India. While it covers safe medical abortion, home remedies for abortion are not covered under this scheme or any other.
A huge list of services is provided in health and wellness centres under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. Reading about the diseases covered in the Ayushman Bharat Scheme can help you understand more.
Priority will be given to girls, women, and senior citizens. In times of need, you will receive free treatment in public and accredited private hospitals nationwide. Secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation will be covered under the scheme.
Is Abortion Legal in India?
To understand the legality of abortion in India, it’s essential to explore the reasons behind the government’s amendments to the 1971 Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) regulations.
The amendments were aimed at providing comprehensive abortion care and universal access to reproductive health services, empowering women across the nation.
Points covered under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act (2021):
- Increased Gestation Limit: The upper gestation limit extends from 20 to 24 weeks for specific categories of women. This includes rape survivors, victims of incest and other vulnerable women such as differently-abled women and minors, etc.
- Opinion Requirement: For termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation, the opinion of one provider is sufficient. However, for termination between 20-24 weeks, the thought of two providers is required.
- Exemption for Substantial Foetal Abnormalities: In cases where a Medical Board diagnoses substantial foetal abnormalities, the upper gestation limit does not apply.
- Confidentiality Clause: The privacy and confidentiality of women who terminate a pregnancy are protected by law. The name and personal details of such women cannot be disclosed except to authorised individuals as stipulated by law.
- Expanded Services: The amendment includes extending MTP services to unmarried women under the failure of the contraceptive clause. This ensures access to safe abortion based on a woman’s choice, regardless of her marital status.
Services Under Ayushman Bharat Yojana Regarding Abortion
The term “Abortion” is covered in Ayushman Bharat Yojana under the sub-categories: Family planning, contraceptive services, and other reproductive care services.
The benefits of this scheme for abortion can be availed at three different levels. This includes:
Family/Household and Community Level
- Awareness Against Early Marriage and Delaying Early Pregnancy: Counsellors provide guidance and education to raise awareness about the risks associated with early marriage and the importance of delaying early pregnancies.
- Motivating for Family Planning: Counsellors work to motivate couples to embrace family planning methods and promote adequate spacing between children.
- Provision of Contraceptives: Condoms, oral contraceptives, and emergency contraceptive pills are provided to individuals, ensuring they can access various methods to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
- Reproductive Care Services: Various reproductive care services are provided to meet the specific needs of individuals, including counselling and facilitation of safe abortion services.
- Post-Abortion Contraceptive Counselling: After an abortion, individuals receive counselling on post-abortion care and are guided on the appropriate use of contraceptives to prevent further unintended pregnancies.
- Follow-up for Complications and Referral: Individuals who have undergone an abortion receive follow-up care to monitor for any complications. If needed, appropriate referrals are made for further treatment.
- Education and Mobilisation Against Violence: Community education initiatives focus on raising awareness about violence against women and mobilising community members to take action against such acts.
- Regular Treatment and Follow-up for Diagnosed Cases: Individuals diagnosed with various health conditions receive regular treatment and follow-up care to manage them effectively.
Health and Wellness Centre – Sub Health Centers
- Counselling and Support for Safe Abortion Services: The Health and Wellness Centre provides counselling and facilitation for safe abortion services. Trained professionals are available to offer guidance and support throughout the process.
- Medical Methods of Abortion: Medical methods of abortion, specifically for pregnancies up to 7 weeks, are conducted at the Health and Wellness Centre. The Primary Health Centre Medical Officer (PHC MO) performs these procedures on designated days.
- Post-Abortion Contraceptive Counselling: After an abortion, individuals are provided with contraceptive counselling to help them choose the most suitable method of contraception for their needs. This aims to prevent future unintended pregnancies.
- Intra-uterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD) Services: Insertion and removal of IUCD are performed at these centres for the prevention of unwanted pregnancies in the future.
- Follow-Up and Referrals: The Health and Wellness Centre ensures proper follow-up care for complications arising after an abortion. If necessary, appropriate referrals are made to ensure individuals receive the required medical attention.
Referral Sites, such as Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs)
The primary purpose of the Ayushman Bharat program is to provide par excellence service to patients in the most comfortable and economical ways. The Key Components Of AB-HWCs include :
- Comprehensively managing all complications
- Management of all post-abortion complications
- Management of survivors of sexual violence following medico-legal protocols
- Providing injectable contraceptives
- Second-trimester Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) as per MTP Act and Guidelines
- Treatment of incomplete/inevitable/spontaneous abortions
- Medical methods of abortion (up to 7 weeks of pregnancy) with referral linkages to Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) up to 8 weeks.
- Referral linkages with higher centres for cases beyond eight weeks of pregnancy up to 20 weeks
These services aim to provide comprehensive and quality care to women, addressing their reproductive health needs, ensuring safe abortions, and managing any related complications.
Conclusion
The Ayushman Bharat Yojana, with its thousands of centres nationwide, offers comprehensive health care to all citizens. The next time you look for high-class medical services, you can check the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. To find out more about it, you can click on the Ayushman card download link which will be highly beneficial.
To find out the essential information that ensures a smooth medical journey, we at HexaHealth can help you out! A team of experts, our objective is to cover all avenues and platforms to help you enjoy maximum benefits and stay informed and aware of your medical rights and choices.