Abortion is a decision that should not be taken lightly and should be an informed decision after careful consideration of all the facts.
Singapore has well-defined and strict regulations about how abortion should be conducted. The purpose of this article is to provide you with the facts about abortion in Singapore.
The Termination of Pregnancy Act Singapore:
Today the Termination of Pregnancy Act Singapore is still in effect in the country. Since 1970, abortion on request has been legal in the country.
The Termination of Pregnancy Act Singapore 1985 is a minor expansion on the Abortion Act 1974.
Based on 2017 statistics, there were 6,815 reported abortions in the country. This was the lowest yearly abortion figure since 1973, a drop of half in just a decade.
The latest data from 2020 shows that there were 4,029 recorded abortions. This works out to a rounded-up average of 336 abortions per month.z
Who Can Have an Abortion in Singapore?
The act applies to a wide range of women. Women who are citizens or permanent residents of Singapore, those who are holders of a working pass under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, and finally, women who have lived in Singapore for over 4 months.
In addition, women who are married to a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore or a holder of a work permit pass, also qualify under the Termination of Pregnancy Act Singapore.
There is a special exemption for women that do not fit in any of these categories. If it can be medically justified that the pregnancy directly endangers a woman’s life, the termination can be carried out by a licensed health professional.
However, the limit for pregnancy termination in Singapore is 24 weeks. To calculate how long you have been pregnant, you should count the number of weeks beginning from the first day of the last menstrual period.
Interestingly, there is also no legislation on the minimum age of eligibility for an abortion. In fact, patients who are under 16 years of age do not need parental consent but will require a special certificate after undergoing specialized counselling at the Health Promotion Board Counselling Centre.
