The State Duma Committee on Health Protection responded to proposals to ban abortions in private clinics. Parliamentarians are committed to upholding the right to choose a doctor and a medical facility while also pushing for stronger oversight of private clinics.
The deputies have thoroughly examined the bill put forward by the Nizhny Novgorod authorities and the proposals from the Russian Orthodox Church, as per the request of the chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin. In addition, the deputies believe that it is crucial to enhance the quality of obstetric and gynecological care. It requires expanding the facilities for medical and social support for expectant mothers and enhancing the pre-abortion counseling system. According to the committee, in 2022, almost 23% of women interviewed continued their pregnancy (47.6 thousand refused abortion).
In November 2023, Patriarch Kirill turned to Vyacheslav Volodin with a request to support the initiative to ban abortions in private clinics, while asking that a security and anti-corruption committee be appointed responsible for preparing the document – he believes that the importance of this issue “goes beyond the healthcare sector “. However, Volodin nevertheless sent a request to the health protection committee.
