Health centers and clinics in Rwanda are now legally permitted to perform abortions following the publication of a ministerial order in the Official Gazette on December 9.
The order, dated November 29, amends a 2019 regulation that restricted abortion procedures to hospitals and polyclinics. The new directive, which was approved by the Cabinet in June, allows abortions to be performed at public or private health facilities authorized by the Ministry of Health to operate as hospitals, health centers, or polyclinics.
Under the revised guidelines, the Ministry of Health may also grant permission for qualified clinics to offer abortion services, following an assessment of their ability to meet required standards.
A polyclinic is a medical facility larger than a clinic but smaller than a hospital, with the capacity to provide a range of medical treatments.
The decision marks a significant shift in Rwanda’s healthcare policy, expanding access to abortion services and increasing the number of facilities where the procedure can be legally performed.
