Polish abortion data reveals stable but limited access in hospitals, with over 95% of procedures occurring outside the public health system.
Stable but Limited Access
The Legal Abortion Collective stated that NFZ data indicates a stable level of abortion procedures performed in a system that handles only a fraction of actual needs. The lack of both a clear increase and further decrease shows that in the Polish public system, there exists a certain, though very limited, constant possibility for systematic termination of pregnancy in hospitals.
Over 95% Outside Hospitals
According to estimates, around 100,000-120,000 pregnancies are terminated in Poland each year. The vast majority of procedures are therefore carried out outside the public health system. According to experts, over 95% of abortions take place outside hospitals and are mainly performed using abortion pills taken at home.
Council of Europe Response
The Council of Europe Ministers Committee published on March 12 a decision regarding Poland’s compliance with European Court of Human Rights rulings on access to legal abortion. It noted the dissemination in Poland of guidelines for hospitals regarding applicable abortion laws.
Increased Procedures, No Complaints
The Council stated that actions appear to be yielding practical results, as the number of legal abortions has doubled year on year (in 2024 compared to 2023), and no complaints have recently been received regarding refusal of abortion on conscience clause grounds. In 2023, 425 pregnancy termination procedures were performed in hospitals.
Appeal to Polish Authorities
Representatives of the Council of Europe expressed concern that Polish authorities have not yet prepared an easy guide for pregnant women regarding access to legal abortion. They also urged authorities to encourage women to file complaints if denied termination and to indicate whether irregularities occurred in such situations.
Constitutional Tribunal Ruling
The Council of Europe communication also included an appeal to quickly develop and adopt new steps to remedy the consequences of the Constitutional Tribunal’s ruling of October 22, 2020, which stated that termination of pregnancy due to fetal defects is unconstitutional.