Long waiting lines for abortions in Norway. Authorities consider an important change

Norway has a new abortion law that came into force in June 2025. Previous regulations stated that abortion could be performed only in a hospital, while the current law also allows such services to be organised outside hospitals. At the same time, there are reports of longer waiting times for treatment. The issue has become the subject of political debate.

Vestre said that access to abortion services is to be improved. Hdir has been tasked with examining how services outside hospitals could be organised while maintaining medical requirements. The minister also points to the possibility of cooperation between specialised healthcare services and facilities run by municipalities. However, such a solution would require certain conditions to be met.<br /><br />Currently, medicines used for abortion can be prescribed only by doctors working in hospitals. The same preparations are also used for some women after a miscarriage when a non-viable pregnancy needs to be removed. The new law allows politicians to change the rules for prescribing them. In the future, such authority could therefore also be granted to doctors working outside hospitals.

The debate intensified following the story of Embla Maria O'Cadiz Gustad. In the 12th week of pregnancy, a private doctor determined that her fetus had died, but the woman was not immediately given an appointment for treatment at a hospital. Politicians from Rødt, Høyre, Venstre and KrF responded to her case. They are demanding changes in the organisation of services.<br /><br />Seher Aydar of Rødt believes that medical abortion should also be available outside hospitals, which she says could increase access to treatment and shorten waiting lines. A similar position was presented by Marius Langballe Dalin of MDG, who pointed to the possibility of reducing some hospital visits. Margret Hagerup of Høyre, meanwhile, wants to move some services to GPs and primary healthcare facilities. Venstre also supports this solution.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) has published a study indicating that an ultrasound examination before an abortion is not necessary. Currently, hospitals require an examination after the sixth week of pregnancy before scheduling the procedure. Hdir is to take into account FHI's findings and the experience of the Sex og samfunn clinic in Oslo, which may temporarily perform abortions as an exception to the applicable rules. Conclusions regarding further solutions are to be presented at the end of 2026.