Balearic Islands government to make women pay for abortions

Women in the Balearic Islands wishing to terminate their pregnancies through the public health system will be referred to one of three accredited private clinics, where they will have to pay for the surgery up front and later request a refund from regional authorities. The cost of an abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy is around 500 euros, and after that up to 1,500 euros, "practically the same as a delivery," said Santiago Barambio, president of Acai, the association of accredited abortion clinics.

Considering that most women who have abortions are between 20 and 29 years old, the fee could constitute a considerable hurdle.

On January 1, the Balearic government - run by the center-right Popular Party, which opposed the existing abortion legislation passed by the previous Socialist government that gave women the right to free abortion up to 14 weeks - canceled an agreement to pay private clinics for the service.