Although the Ministry of Health and Population had declared to provide free of cost abortion service from the government health facilities from October 19, 2016, Waling Primary Health Centre in Syangja is charging money for the service.

There are several women in the district who had paid for abortion service at the centre. Dr Krishnaraj Adhikari of the health centre, however, said that the women were charged for medicines and not the service. 

As per the data of the health centre, at least 30 women undergo abortion in a month. The data of the District Health Office showed that 250 women took abortion service in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. 

Abortion was legalised in the country in 2002. According to the law, women can undergo abortion in first 12 weeks of pregnancy; up to 18 weeks in case of rape, incest, foetal malformation, or when the woman’s life is endangered.