Health Min. wants to reduce amount of abortions in Netherlands

Minister Edith Schippers of Public Health wants to reduce the number of abortions in the Netherlands. Currently there are about 30 thousand abortions in the country per year and she finds that far too many, she said in an interview with Nederlands Dagblad, ANP reports.

This is the first time Schippers is giving an opinion on the number of abortions in the country.

"We do a lot for awareness and prevention. If you then look at that figure, it gives me a fright", Schippers said in the interview, which will be published on Saturday. "I want to see the abortion rate decrease further. Abortion is not a disguised contraception."

Schippers wants GPs to play a bigger role in assisting women with unwanted pregnancies. Walking into an abortion clinic is pretty anonymous. But your house doctor will be able to gie you more tailored care and possibly even prevent women from accidentally becoming pregnant again, according to the Minister.