Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy says he has mandated the Georgetown Public Hospital to begin doing abortions early next year but arrangements have to be finalized.

"But I guarantee you that in the first quarter of 2002 there is going to be a public component in terms of abortion in Guyana," the minister added.

The minister said that women not being able to have abortions at the Georgetown Public Hospital and other public institutions has been a shortcoming of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act. The minister noted that while it did not offer termination services, the public sector was frequently forced to deal with complications of botched abortions. In some cases there have been deaths.

The minister said he will be working to ensure that adequate provision is made for the counselling of persons seeking abortions.

Dr Ramsammy was at the time speaking on a Government Information Agency television programme taped on Saturday.