Health centres and clinics can now legally carry out abortion, following the publication of an order of the Minister of Health published in Official Gazette on December 9. The order dated November 29 is an amendment to the one of April 2019, which determined that an abortion could be performed in a hospital or polyclinic. ALSO READ: More women openly seek abortion services one year after Rwanda relaxes law The order, which was approved by the Cabinet in June, provides that an “abortion is performed in a public or a private health facility authorised by the Ministry in charge of health to operate as a hospital, a health center or a polyclinic.” However, it said, the health ministry may authorise a clinic that fulfills the requirements to carry out abortion services after assessment of the requirements. ALSO READ: Unintended pregnancies fall as abortion rates stagnate in 25 years A polyclinic is a medical facility more significant than a clinic but smaller than a hospital, in terms of capacity to provide treatment or healthcare to patients.
