Healthcare
Abortion: Hospital Garcia de Orta violates regulator instructions
The Hospital Garcia de Orta (HGO) has implemented a new referral procedure for voluntary pregnancy termination (IVG) as of August 10, requiring patients to attend two consultations—one at a health center and one non-in-person consultation with the hospital—before accessing the procedure at the private Clínica dos Arcos. The health regulator (ERS) has previously ruled that requiring patients to start the process at health centers rather than the hospital, or imposing extra steps, constitutes a barrier to access and violates binding regulations.
Why it mattersIf you are seeking to access an abortion via the SNS at the Hospital Garcia de Orta, you are currently being subjected to a referral process that the health regulator has deemed illegal and an obstruction to your rights; you may face unnecessary delays and should be aware that the hospital is failing to meet its legal obligation to provide a streamlined, direct path to care.
