Legal Abortions Rise in Poland as Complaints Over Refusals Drop, Says European Rights Body

Legal abortions in Poland doubled in 2024 while complaints about hospitals refusing procedures on conscience grounds have stopped, according to the Council of Europe. The European rights body said recent government measures appear to be improving access to legal abortion services in the country, where strict laws have been in place since 2021. Official health ministry data showed nearly 900 legal abortions were carried out in Polish hospitals in 2024, compared with 425 the previous year.

Poland introduced a near-total abortion ban in 2021 after a court ruling declared terminations due to foetal abnormalities unconstitutional. Since coming to power in 2023, the government led by Donald Tusk has pledged to ease the restrictions, but political divisions have slowed legislative change. President Karol Nawrocki has signalled he would block any major liberalisation of the abortion law.

Despite the political deadlock, the government has issued new guidance to hospitals and prosecutors clarifying that abortions on the grounds of a woman’s mental health are legal and must be provided by public hospitals. The Council of Europe noted that since the introduction of an unconditional obligation for hospitals to offer the procedure as part of contracted medical services, authorities have not received new complaints about refusals based on the “conscience clause.” However, the organisation also expressed concern over the lack of progress in passing broader legislation on safe termination of pregnancy.

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