Publication:

Governmental healthcare provisions, benefits and quality care of abortion services in India: a narrative review

Abortion services are a critical part of reproductive healthcare, empowering individuals to make informed choices about their pregnancies. India has progressive legislation such as the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, and multiple national and state-level initiatives to improve access to safe abortion services. However, unsafe abortions remain prevalent due to limited awareness, provider shortages, and social stigma. This narrative review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature, government policy documents, and program reports on abortion services in India. The review examines legal provisions, service delivery availability, quality-of-care, and benefits of services by national and state-level programs. The review identified persistent gaps between legal provisions and service delivery, including uneven availability of abortion services, shortages of trained providers, limited financial protection for elective abortions, and deficiencies in quality-of-care such as informed consent and respectful care. Strengthening implementation of existing policies, expanding provider capacity, improving infrastructure, and promoting rights-based, stigma-free abortion care are essential to ensure equitable access to safe abortion services in India.