To what extent is abortion legislation a key challenge for health equity in Northern Ireland?

Abstract

It is unlikely that the debate on abortion in Northern Ireland will soon reach a conclusion, as there is still significant political and religious unrest in the country. For women and medical practitioners to feel safe under the current law, there must be some clarification on its interpretation in practice. Increased pressure to release the official guidelines is, therefore, a matter of priority. In addition, the recent ruling that Northern Irish women must pay for abortion services in England means that there is significant health inequity between those who have the money to travel and pay for private care and those that do not. This is further compounded by the difficulty some women face when trying to access services abroad when they suffer social stigma and pressure. For this inequity to be addressed in any real sense, it is imperative that Stormont and Westminster look again at this issue and either make treatment free through the mainland NHS, subsidize women's costs of travel and treatment, or change the law such that women are able to access abortion and reproductive services more readily. Through addressing important related factors at a grass-roots level, it may be possible, in time, for Northern Ireland to bring itself back into line with the rest of the UK on this issue and ensure equity for women's reproductive rights.