A bill has been introduced in the State Duma that would exclude private clinics from being among the medical institutions where abortion can be performed. The document, submitted for consideration by the parliament of the Nizhny Novgorod region, outlines a shift in where abortion services may take place within the Russian healthcare system.
The explanatory note accompanying the bill states that private healthcare facilities would lose the authority to legally terminate pregnancies. In practical terms, the proposal would amend Part 1 of Article 56 of the Federal Law On the principles of protecting the health of citizens in the Russian Federation, which currently reserves abortion to state and municipal medical institutions.
Advocates of the bill contend that private clinics fail to ensure a proper standard of care. They argue that the so-called “week of silence” is not observed in private settings, that patients do not consistently receive pre-procedure consultations with psychologists, and that information about social support options is not always provided. Proponents also claim that private providers lack the necessary knowledge and competencies to manage potential complications and to deliver resuscitation and surgical care when needed. They assert that the oversight of obstetric and gynecological services in private facilities is insufficient and calls for stricter control over the entire process.
The authors emphasize the need to guarantee uniform medical standards across the country and to safeguard patient safety by directing abortion services exclusively to public institutions with established protocols and oversight mechanisms.
The discussion around this proposal has included regional remarks, such as statements from Kursk officials indicating that certain practices were not aligned with public health guidelines. Critics of the bill warn of potential unintended consequences, including reduced access to care in remote areas and increased administrative hurdles for patients seeking abortion services in regions where private clinics play a significant role in reproductive health care.