The first periodic Review of Certain Matters under the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977 is available now.
As the steward of the health system, the Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora plays an important role in ensuring public safety and quality through our regulation and monitoring functions. This includes the administration of the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977 (the CSA Act).
This first review builds the foundations for the next periodic review and shows us where to prioritise our ongoing monitoring and regulation.
The review identifies that some good progress has occurred, however, there is work to do to improve access, especially for people living in rural communities and requiring surgical or follow-up health care. Cost, service consistency and access to counselling services also vary greatly across regions.
A range of perspectives have been considered within the review - from people accessing these services to health care providers and professionals.
The Ministry thanks the people who shared their experiences. Their input allows us to truly understand the challenges faced when navigating abortion healthcare services. We also thank providers for their continued efforts to ensure data integrity and for their dedication and honest feedback.
The Ministry is committed to creating an environment where all New Zealanders are supported to stay well and where all parts of the health system can operate at their best.
