Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971

Medical Termination of Pregnancy
(MTP) Act,1971
Reasons for Abortion
Unwanted sex Desire for son

Sexual violence
Unwanted pregnancy
Sex determination
Abortion
MTP Act: Objectives
MTP Act
 Aims to improve the maternal health scenario by
preventing large number of unsafe abortions and
consequent high incidence of maternal mortality &
morbidity
 Legalizes abortion services
 Promotes access to safe abortion services to
women
 Offers protection to medical practitioners who
otherwise would be penalized under the Indian
Penal Code (sections 315-316)
Legal framework
• MTP Act
– lays down when & where pregnancies can be
terminated
– Grants the central govt. power to make rules and the
state govt. power to frame regulations
• MTP Rules
– lays down who can terminate the pregnancy, training
requirements, approval process for place, etc.
• MTP Regulations
– lays down forms for opinion, maintenance of records
– custody of forms and reporting of cases
Legal abortions
Abortions are termed legal only when all the

following conditions are met:
– Termination done by a medical practitioner
approved by the Act
– Termination done at a place approved under the
Act
– Termination done for conditions and within the
gestation prescribed by the Act
– Other requirements of the rules & regulations are
complied with
When can pregnancies be terminated?
• RMP shall not be guilty of offence under law

• Up to 20 weeks gestation
• With the consent of the women. If the women is
below 18 years or is mentally ill, then with
consent of a guardian
• With the opinion of a registered medical
practitioner, formed in good faith, under certain
circumstances
• Opinion of two RMPs required for termination of
pregnancy between 12 and 20 weeks
MTP Act: Application
 Continuation of pregnancy constitutes risk to

the life or grave injury to the physical or mental
health of woman
 Substantial risk of physical or mental
abnormalities in the fetus as to render it
seriously handicapped
 Pregnancy caused by rape (presumed grave
injury to mental health)
 Contraceptive failure in married couple
(presumed grave injury to mental health)
MTP Act: Place for conducting MTP
A hospital established or maintained by

Government
or
 A place approved for the purpose of this Act by a

District-level Committee constituted by the
government with the CMHO as Chairperson
MTP Act amendment 2002
• Decentralizes site registration to a 3-5 member

district level committee chaired by the
CMO/DHO
• Approval of sites that can perform MTPs under
the act can now be done at the district level
• Stricter penalties for MTPs being done in a un-
approved site or by a persons not permitted by
the act
Medical Abortion
• MTP using Mifepristrone (RU 486) & Misoprostol

approved for up to 7 weeks termination
• Only an RMP (as defined by the MTP Act) can
prescribe the drugs
• Has to follow MTP Act, Rules & Regulations
• Can prescribe in his/her clinic, provided he/she
has access to an approved place
• Should display a certificate from owner of
approved place agreeing to provide access
Implications of amendments
• Simplifies registration of sites which can be done

at district level now
• Providers can get their sites approved for

providing abortions under the MTP Act for 1st
trimester only or up to 20 weeks and thereby
come under the protective cover of the MTP Act
Implications of amendments
• Offers potential to increase number of approved

sites, which would enable women to access safe
abortion services
• Effective implementation will help to bring all

abortions within legal frame work
MTP rules: what do they cover?
• Experience & training required for providers

• Approval of a place for terminating pregnancy
under the Act
• Composition & tenure of District Level
Committee
• Inspection, cancellation or suspension of
approval; review
• Consent form
MTP rules: Who can perform?
A medical practitioner (RMP)

– who has a recognized medical qualification as
defined in clause (h) of section 2 of Indian
Medical Council Act, 1956
– Whose name has been entered in a State
Medical Register and
– Who has such experience or training in
Gynecology and Obstetrics as prescribed by
Rules made under the Act
MTP rules: training requirement - 1
For termination up to 12 weeks:

– A practitioner who has assisted a registered
medical practitioner in performing 25 cases of
MTP of which at least 5 were performed
independently in a hospital established or
maintained or a training institute approved for
this purpose by the Government
MTP rules: training requirement - 2
For termination up to 20 weeks

– A practitioner who holds a post-graduate degree
or diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology
– A practitioner who has completed six months
house job in Obstetrics and Gynecology
– A practitioner who has at least one-year
experience in practice of Obstetrics and
Gynecology at a hospital which has all facilities
– A practitioner registered in state medical register
immediately before commencement of the Act,
experience in practice of Obstetrics and
Gynecology for a period not less than three
years.
Approval of a place by trimester
For sites up to 12 weeks (1st trimester)
• Gynecology examination/ labor table

• sterilization equipment
• Drugs & parental fluids
• Back up facilities for treatment of shock
• Facilities for transportation
Approval of a place by trimester
For sites up to 20 weeks (1st and 2nd trimester):
• All requirements for up to 12 weeks +

• Operation table and instruments for performing
abdominal or gynecological surgery
• Anesthetic equipment, resuscitation equipment
and sterilization equipment
• Drugs & parental fluids notified for emergency
use, notified by Government of India from time to
time
Regulatory body: D L C
• District level MTP Committee

– Minimum of 3 & Maximum of 5 members
including chairperson (CM H O)
• Composition of the committee:
– One medical person (Gyne/Surgeon/Anestheist)
– One member from local medical profession; NGO
& Panchayati Raj Institution of the district.
– At least one member shall be a woman.
• Tenure 2 calendar years
– NGO members shall not have more than 2 terms
Approval Process
• Application in Form A to be addressed to CMHO

by place seeking approval
• CMHO verifies or inspects the place to satisfy
that termination can be done under safe &
hygienic conditions
• CMHO recommends approval to the committee
• Committee considers application &
recommendation and approve and issue
certificate of approval in Form B
Approval Process
• Place to be inspected within 2 months of

receiving application
• Certificate to be issued within 2 months of
inspection
• If deficiency found, within 2 months of deficiency
having been rectified
Inspection
• CMHOs to inspect to ensure safe & hygienic

conditions for conduction of MTPs.
• Call for information and seize in case found

otherwise
Cancellation/ Suspension
• CMHO to report the committee for unsafe and

unhygienic conditions.
• Committee can suspend or cancel approval after
giving the owner an opportunity for
representation
• Owner can reapply to the committee after
making additions and improvements.
• During suspension the place be deemed as non-
approved

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Medical Termination of Pregnancy

Unwanted sex Desire for son

Abortions are termed legal only when all the

• RMP shall not be guilty of offence under law

 Continuation of pregnancy constitutes risk to

A hospital established or maintained by

 A place approved for the purpose of this Act by a

• Decentralizes site registration to a 3-5 member

• MTP using Mifepristrone (RU 486) & Misoprostol

• Simplifies registration of sites which can be done

• Providers can get their sites approved for

• Offers potential to increase number of approved

• Effective implementation will help to bring all

• Experience & training required for providers

A medical practitioner (RMP)

For termination up to 12 weeks:

For termination up to 20 weeks

For sites up to 12 weeks (1st trimester)

• Gynecology examination/ labor table

For sites up to 20 weeks (1st and 2nd trimester):

• All requirements for up to 12 weeks +

• District level MTP Committee

• Application in Form A to be addressed to CMHO

• Place to be inspected within 2 months of

• CMHOs to inspect to ensure safe & hygienic

• Call for information and seize in case found

• CMHO to report the committee for unsafe and

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