An inquiry to the HSE has revealed that there are currently 402 GPs contracted to provide abortion in the Republic, a rise on last year’s figure.
A paper published by the National Women’s Council earlier this year revealed that, as of April 2020, 373 GPs had signed contracts with the HSE to provide abortions, indicating a steady increase in the number of GPs signed up to the scheme.
The Irish College of General Practitioners estimates that around 3,500 GPs are actively practicing in Ireland, according to The Irish Times.
Ten out of 19 maternity units continue to provide abortion across the country, the same figure as in early 2019.
This comes as the HSE confirm that late-term abortions are taking place in Ireland, which involves the dismemberment of an unborn baby up to six months into a pregnancy.
The practice was mentioned in a UCD study published earlier this year, which said that doctors were receiving training in performing Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) abortions.
The admission that these abortions are being performed came in response to a Parliamentary Question from Galway East TD Seán Cannery.