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Law blamed for illegal abortion rise among Asians in New Zealand
By Deidre Henzell
December 12, 2004
A law change forcing thousands of foreign fee-paying students and visitors to
pay for health services is feared to be behind a rise in illegal abortions.
Since October 30 last year, people on student or visitor visas have been
ineligible for free health care - meaning they must pay $1000-$1500 for an
abortion. Previously, those here for at least two years were eligible.
Doctors say the change has contributed to more illegal abortions, including a
rise in women buying abortion pills illegally over the internet.
"You would expect that (the law change) might very well put you off if you have
to pay $1500 for an abortion when you could pay 20 bucks for some illicit
abortion pills," said Dr Pippa MacKay, who performs abortions at Christchurch's
Lyndhurst Day Hospital.
Last week, the Sunday Star-Times highlighted the first reported case of a woman
who almost died after using abortion pills bought off the internet. Three other
cases of illegal abortions were reported in the past 18 months - the first
since 1976. Customs officials have confiscated more abortion pills imported
illegally by post, mainly from China.
"If people are trying to save money but end up haemorrhaging, they're risking
their lives," said MacKay.
Auckland-based Chinese doctor Garsing Wong said he had heard "via the
grapevine" about several Chinese brothels in Auckland importing bulk abortion
pills.
The Prostitutes' Collective had not heard of any cases, but suspected it was
occurring. Its Auckland co-ordinator, Kate Dickie, said a Chinese brothel was
importing contraceptive devices from Hong Kong. "So it wouldn't surprise me if
they're bringing in abortion pills."
She was concerned some health services told Asian women they would have to pay
for an abortion before checking their eligibility for free treatment, which was
off-putting.
"It's very much a racist thing - they're not saying that to European people,
just those with an Asian accent. It's quite appalling."
She had phoned a health service on behalf of several Chinese women seeking
abortions and was told they must pay, despite their residency status not being
asked about.
MacKay said the answer to the problem was to boost contraceptive education for
foreign students rather than returning to taxpayer-funded health care for them.
The abortion pill mifepristone was relatively new here and people needed to
know it was dangerous if used unsupervised, she said.
Dickie agreed more contraception education was needed for migrants,
particularly Chinese women, who had poor knowledge. "I've had Chinese women
asking me if water-based lubricant will stop them getting pregnant.
"Nobody seems to be going halfway to getting the word to these women. We are
trying for the sex workers. There just seems to be an absolute lack of services
provided for Asian migrants."
The Health Ministry has estimated about a quarter of the 82,000 international
students here were eligible for free health care. Last year, 19% of women
having abortions were Asian, up about 3% on the previous year.
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