in women England The “pills by mail” abortion service will be able to be used indefinitely when lawmakers voted today to scrap the plan in September rather than force ministers to make it permanent.
The decision will benefit thousands of women every year who want to take the two pills needed to terminate a pregnancy in the privacy of their own home, rather than having to take them to a clinic or hospital for the first time. They have to be taken within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Lawmakers took advantage of the free vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to force the government to vote by 215 to 188 to end a two-year trial of the plan, which was temporarily suspended. was brought in when covid struck in the spring. 2020, August 29.
Seventy-two Conservative lawmakers voted along with Labor members and others to ensure early medical abortion at home remains in place. Former Culture Secretary Maria Miller and Matt Warman were among Tory lawmakers who spoke in favor. Labor lawmakers who did so included Diana Johnson and Shadow Minister of Domestic Violence and Security Jess Phillips.
Pro-jubilant campaigners hailed the vote as a major victory for abortion rights and women’s rights.
Claire Murphy, chief executive officer of BPAS, a leading provider of abortion services, said: “We are absolutely delighted that lawmakers followed the evidence and above all listened to women when they voted to continue this service. “
“Early abortion at home is safe, effective and an important option for women. We look forward to being able to provide this service in the future and are incredibly grateful to all the parliamentarians who championed it. ,
Lawmakers voted on an amendment to the health and care bill, first proposed by Conservative aide Liz Sugg and passed by the House of Lords two weeks ago. When it reached the Commons it became the subject of a “disagreeing motion” of the government as ministers sought to avoid being bound by it.
Vote will mean milestone abortion The 1967 Act has been amended and brought England in line with Wales, which recently decided to make the scheme permanent. Scotland also plans to do the same as part of the Scottish Nationalist Administration’s new Women’s Health Strategy in Holyrood.
“It was a vote for evidence over ideology, a vote for reproductive rights and a vote for gender equality”, said Louise McCuden, UK advocacy and public affairs consultant, MSI Reproductive Choice, a global provider of termination support. Which includes 60,000 per annum. In England.
“Making this safe and popular service a permanent option will particularly benefit those who struggle to attend face-to-face appointments, including those in abusive relationships, those with caregiving responsibilities and those without transportation. Contains. Huh.
“Everyone chooses abortion for different reasons and under different circumstances. It is important that we can offer options that take individual circumstances into account – and that includes taking both pills at home. “
Public Health Minister Maggie Throop received outcry from medical groups, pro-choice organizations and abortion service providers when she announced last month That the two-year experiment with “Goals by Mail” would be extended to six months and then completely abolished in England.
About 150,000 women have accessed the service at home since its launch in 2020.
Several medical royal colleagues, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the British Medical Association, also criticized the plan to end the scheme as a betrayal of women’s rights as it would not give them the opportunity to choose where to take the pills. . ,
Anti-election groups reacted with disappointment to the vote. “It’s a shameful day,” said Alithea Williams, public policy manager at the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children.
“It’s disgusting that the health care bill has been hijacked to push through something that isn’t health care by any definition.”