The Australian Medical Student Association (AMSA) strongly supports the World Health Organization’s recognition that abortion is a critical component of reproductive healthcare.

We are deeply concerned by recent reports that some Australian hospitals had banned or restricted access to abortion services, thus undermining patients’ right to access safe and legal healthcare.

“It is a shameful decision for hospitals to even consider restricting abortion access,” says Mr Allen Xiao, AMSA’s 2024 President.

“The right to abortion access should never be put into question in Australia. We urge all levels of the Australian government  to intervene immediately and commit to increasing provision of abortion care in public hospitals across the state.”

AMSA acknowledge that the right to conscientious objection exists. However, we assert that conscientious objection should not obstruct patients' access to necessary medical care. Denying patients access to safe abortion care does not eliminate the demand for abortion services. Instead, it forces individuals to seek unsafe alternatives, often with serious health risks. For example, there is a projected 24% increase in maternal deaths in America following the abortion ban.

Further, the quality of education and training of medical students and junior doctors significantly deteriorates when hospitals restrict abortion access. Many medical students and trainees are unable to receive comprehensive clinical exposure to abortion care. This impacts the development of critical clinical skills and perpetuates stigma and misinformation about abortion procedures. Medical education must provide future doctors with the knowledge, training and experience necessary to provide a full-spectrum, evidence-based reproductive healthcare.

As the next generation of healthcare leaders, AMSA calls for hospitals and healthcare institutions to ensure that their policies support patient access to reproductive healthcare services, and that they facilitate opportunities for students and junior doctors to gain the clinical experience needed to provide safe and compassionate healthcare.

We believe that it is our responsibility to advocate for patient-centred, evidence-based healthcare that respects and protects individual autonomy. We stand in solidarity with medical professionals who oppose the restrictions on abortion access and are committed to ensuring that future healthcare providers are equipped with the training and resources necessary to serve all patients.

AMSA remains committed to ensuring that all patients—regardless of their background, location, or circumstances—have access to the full range of reproductive healthcare services, including safe and legal abortion care.