Project for Developing a Safe and Friendly Alternative Service Network for Adolescents and Women with Unplanned Pregnancies Implemented in collaboration between the Network Supporting Women’s Choices with Unplanned Pregnancies under the Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, in collaboration with the Bureau of Reproductive Health, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, supported by the Health Promotion Fund Office (HPFO.)
Aims to develop a network of services for both continuing and terminating pregnancies to be strong, accessible, safe, and friendly, as well as seeking continuity in sustainable operations in the system. This is done through close coordination with the Unplanned Pregnancy Counseling Project 1663 Duration of operation 24 months from October 2018 and ending in September 2020
The objective is to strengthen and network service units that assist adolescents and women who continue their pregnancies, expand safe medical abortion services comprehensively by developing the potential and strength of the RSA volunteer network RSA (Referral System for Safe Abortion) to create public understanding of the rights of adolescents and women with unplanned pregnancies using online communication tools, campaigns, and various forums. Manage knowledge (Knowledge Management) to lead to development and push for policy recommendations.
The development of operations in preventing and caring for adolescent pregnancies in Thailand involves various responsible agencies and requires coordination to develop work in the same direction to enhance cooperation in project development to achieve results. Present project plans to agencies involved in preventing and caring for adolescent and women’s pregnancies, both public and private sectors. Gather opinions and suggestions from meeting participants to develop coordination mechanisms, create conclusions on coordination and collaboration to achieve the goal of preventing and caring for adolescent pregnancies together. The project, therefore, organized a project launch meeting on Friday, 1 February 2019 at Kamthorn Suwannakit Meeting Room Department of Health Ministry of Public Health with 70 participants, including representatives from the following agencies:
Internal agencies of the Ministry of Public Health, Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health: Public Health Administration Division, Legal Division, Nursing Division, and Public Relations Division, Department of Health Service Support: Health Facility and Medical Art Division, Department of Health: Health Promotion Division, Public Health Law Management Center, and Public Communication Center, Food and Drug Administration: Drug Division, Inspector General’s Office, Ministry of Public Health, Agencies under the main ministry according to the Prevention and Solution of Adolescent Pregnancy Act B.E..2016 Ministry of Education: Special Center for Student Protection and Assistance, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security: Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Institute, Experts in all 5 fields in the Committee for the Prevention and Solution of Adolescent Pregnancy Problems according to the Prevention and Solution of Adolescent Pregnancy Act B.E..2016: Dr..Khunying Kasama Worawan Na Ayudhya (Education) Dr..Narongsak Angkasuwapla (Public Health) Dr..Yongyuth Wongpiromsarn (Psychology) Ms. Supatra Nakaphiw (Protection of Rights and Freedoms of Adolescents) and Ms. Ploenphit Sripob (Social Work) , Health Promotion Fund Office, National Health Security Office, Legal agencies include the Royal Thai Police, Office of the Attorney General, Health hotlines include Mental Health Hotline 1323 Social Hotline 1300 and NHSO Hotline. 1330 , Professional organizations include the Medical Council, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Thailand, and the Nursing Council,
Experts/Specialists in this field include Prof..Emeritus Dr..Wiboonpan Thitadilk, Assoc. Prof..Dr..Orawan Keerivat, Asst. Prof..Dr..Sanya Patrachai, Dr..Pisanu Khantipong, Lt. Gen..Assoc. Prof..Dr..Wiroj Areekul, and Assoc. Prof..Dr..Aranop Jaisamran,
RSA Volunteer Network RSA includes Dr..Ruangkit Sirikanchanakul, Dr..Amorn Kaewsai, Dr..Worachat Meevasana, Dr..Somchai Peerakorn, Women’s Choice Support Network for Unplanned Pregnancies includes Emergency Shelter, Sukruthai House, Grace House, Tam Tang Group, etc. Speakers and project team
The project launch meeting also held a press conference “Supporting and Driving Access to Safe and Friendly Alternative Service Networks for Adolescents and Women with Unplanned Pregnancies” from 11.00 – 12.00 hrs. at Somboon Watcharothai Meeting Room Department of Health Ministry of Public Health by Dr. Panpimol Wipulakorn Director-General of the Department of Health, Assoc. Prof..Dr..Kritaya Archavanitkul, Coordinator of the Women’s Choice Support Network for Unplanned Pregnancies, Dentist Sirikiat Liangkobkit Director of Bureau 2 Health Promotion Fund Office (HPFO)
Watch the video clip here
Driving Safe Abortion Policy
and Developing the RSA Volunteer Referral Network for Safe Abortion RSA
Referral System for Safe Abortion
by Dr. Panpimol Wipulakorn Director-General of the Department of Health
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd8I_zGo_o4
On February 1, 2019, Dr. Panpimol Wipulakorn, Director-General of the Department of Health, held a press conference on supporting and driving access to safe and friendly alternative service networks for adolescents and women with unplanned pregnancies, stating that
Currently, Thailand has approximately 100,000 unplanned pregnancies per year, with access to safe abortion services for only over ten thousand per year. The rest may undergo unsafe abortions or continue pregnancies despite being unprepared. Safe abortion is conducted under the Criminal Code and the Medical Council’s regulations, which include cases of rape and health risks to the mother. For abortions, if the pregnancy is over 9 weeks, an electric vacuum aspiration method can be used, but if the pregnancy is less, medication is used.
Dr. Panpimol stated that developing access to safe abortion services is an ongoing issue. Using medication as an option helps reduce the dangers of unsafe abortions, and many countries that have implemented this have seen results in reducing costs for the government and service recipients, as well as reducing complications. Currently, the medication is included in the National Essential Medicines List, with guidelines for importing the medication, and healthcare facilities and doctors using the medication must register with the Department of Health to ensure safety. Establishing a network for safe abortion services, the RSA volunteer referral network for safe abortion, currently has 130 volunteer doctors and 348 multidisciplinary volunteer teams, including the Unplanned Pregnancy Counseling Line 1663, to ensure that those with unplanned pregnancies can access safe and friendly alternative services, whether continuing the pregnancy, which requires a support system for quality pregnancy, or safe abortion, with continued care to prevent repeat pregnancies or abortions.
Project Plan for Developing a Safe and Friendly Alternative Service Network
for Adolescents and Women with Unplanned Pregnancies
by Assoc. Prof..Dr..Kritaya Archavanitkul Coordinator of the Women’s Choice Support Network for Unplanned Pregnancies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1and_ETpuW4
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kritaya Archavanitkul, Coordinator of the Women’s Choice Support Network for Unplanned Pregnancies, stated that the project for developing an alternative service network is a collaboration between the Women’s Choice Support Network for Unplanned Pregnancies and the RSA volunteer network, aiming to strengthen and network service units that assist adolescents and women who continue their pregnancies, expand safe medical abortion services comprehensively by developing the potential and strength of the RSA volunteer network, develop the website rsathai.org to provide accurate information on choice rights to prevent access to illegal abortion drug sales on the internet. From working in this field, it was found that
Over 90% of women with unplanned pregnancies want to terminate their pregnancies, so it is necessary to drive access to safe and legal options and services. However, despite having abortion laws, there are still issues, with a petition filed with the Constitutional Court, which has been accepted, requesting the repeal of Section 301 of the Criminal Code, which states that any woman who causes herself to miscarry or allows another person to cause her to miscarry shall be liable to imprisonment for not more than 3 years or a fine of not more than 6,000 baht, or both, because even if accessing safe services, one can still be prosecuted.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kritaya stated that there is also a request to amend Section 305 of the Criminal Code, which states that if it is a medical act necessary due to the woman’s health or if the woman is pregnant from an illegal act, such as rape, it shall not be considered an offense. However, there have been arrests of doctors providing services, with 2 volunteer doctors currently charged by the police, due to interpretations that affect only the physical health of pregnant women, not including mental health, citing that the Medical Council’s regulations, which state that mental health issues can justify abortion, are not law.
Supporting the Implementation of the Project for Developing a Safe and Friendly Alternative Service Network
for Adolescents and Women with Unplanned Pregnancies and Driving the Prevention and Solution of Adolescent Pregnancy Problems
by Dentist Sirikiat Liangkobkit
Director of Bureau 2 Health Promotion Fund Office (HPFO.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IViK3WkAJME
Dentist Sirikiat Liangkobkit, Director of Bureau 2, Health Promotion Fund Office (HPFO), stated that HPFO has supported the budget for implementing the project for developing a safe and friendly alternative service network for adolescents and women with unplanned pregnancies from Oct. 2018 – Sept. 2020 to strengthen and network service units that assist adolescents and women who continue their pregnancies, expand safe abortion services comprehensively by developing the potential and strength of the RSA volunteer referral network, create public understanding of the rights of adolescents and women with unplanned pregnancies, and manage knowledge to lead to development and push for policy recommendations.