Sindh Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho has said that it is imperative that health facilities nationwide integrate contraceptive and post-abortion care services. She called lack of counselling a major contributor to unsafe abortions, saying it is essential to educate people about contraceptive options and make them widely accessible.

Dr Pechuho was speaking at the Karachi launch of the Population Council and Guttmacher Institute’s report, 'Safeguarding Women's Health: Trends, Inequities, and Opportunities in Pakistan's Abortion and Post-Abortion Care Services'.

The minister highlighted the need to significantly increase the number of community health workers, underscoring how this shortage affects the quality and reach of healthcare. She also raised concerns about the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, suggesting it better incentivise health and population welfare improvements by rewarding provinces with strong health indicators with legislative representation.

She further noted that Pakistan’s policies on linking abortion with maternal health need alignment with World Health Organization guidelines to enhance the quality of care. “Rising maternal mortality due to unsafe abortions is a pressing issue, and accessible, safe reproductive healthcare must be a priority,” she added.

The event presented findings from the Population Council’s national study, which highlights critical gaps in Pakistan’s reproductive healthcare. The study estimates that in 2023, 66 per 1,000 women of reproductive age (15-49) had an induced abortion. Of these, 21-30% faced complications, underscoring serious shortfalls in post-abortion care. Although the rate of abortion-related complications declined from 13.9 per 1,000 in 2012 to 11.7 in 2023, disparities remain, with rural and low-income women at greater risk of complications than their urban, wealthier counterparts.

The report is especially timely as Pakistan faces significant reproductive health challenges, with a population growth rate of 2.55% annually and stagnant contraceptive use. Approximately 17.3% of women report an unmet need for family planning, leading to high rates of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions.

Dr. Zeba Sathar, country director of the Population Council, stressed that while Pakistan has made healthcare advancements, ensuring women’s access to family planning and safe reproductive health services remains critical.

“Empowering women with access to family planning and safe healthcare services is key not only to better health outcomes but also to broader social and economic progress,” she remarked.

The event included a panel discussion on 'Safeguarding Women’s Health in Pakistan', where speakers discussed barriers to reproductive healthcare and the stigma surrounding abortion. They emphasized the importance of education, healthcare reform, and policy advocacy to create a safer, healthier environment for women.

A session on 'Unintended Pregnancies and Abortion Care-Evidence from Pakistan' featured a presentation by Dr Sathar, who shared global insights on unintended pregnancies and emphasized the need for comprehensive reproductive health services in Pakistan.

She reported that 3.8 million abortions occur annually in the country. The study recommends that public and private health facilities be fully staffed and equipped to provide services according to the government’s national guidelines and standards for uterine evacuation and post-abortion care.