In 2000, a Philippine policy clarifying the legality of medical treatment for women with postabortion complications was introduced to address unsafe abortion as a leading cause of maternal death, and reports of discrimination and abuse by healthcare providers against women who had abortions illegally. Despite its initial success as a pilot program, the policy's implementation and expansion were not prioritized. The incidence of unsafe abortion has increased over the years and, in 2009, the right to postabortion care was codified in national law, yet the mistreatment and abuse of women has continued in violation of medical ethics and the law. In 2016, following the demands of advocates and recommendations from national and international human rights bodies, the government introduced a new policy to strengthen the national framework for postabortion care, clarifying the legal and ethical duties of health service providers and offering women formal avenues for redress against abuse. The new policy offers useful guidance for countries that are contemplating new ways to strengthen the quality of postabortion care services in accordance with recognized standards of medical ethics and human rights.
Keywords: Abortion; Accountability of service providers; Discrimination against Post-abortion patients; Mistreatment of patients; Philippines policy reform; Post-abortion care.
© 2018 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.