Removing hurdles

Tarntawan Clinic provides accessible abortion services centred on patient autonomy and psychosocial support

- STORY: THANA BOONLERT

An exhibition marks the launch of the clinic at Kinjai Contemporary.

A sign of a beaming sunflower (tarn-tawan in Thai) juts out from a white and blue home office. Located on the ground floor, Tarntawan Clinic is offering a lifeline to abortion seekers who enjoy limited access to legal services. It provides medical abortion for those who are up to 12 weeks pregnant through telemedicine.

arm and cosy — it is not only an abortion clinic, but a haven for women and LGBTIs to reclaim power over their bodies.

Clients consult with staff online and receive abortion pills by post. Onsite visits are allowed by appointment for privacy reasons. It is run by a team of doctors and counsellors.

"Abortion should be seen as natural because women have long practised it, for example, by using herbs. Our service is offered in a friendly setting," said Chonthita Kraisrikul, project manager for Tamtang Foundation, during the official launch on March 7.

"We abide by the law that requires doctors to prescribe pills, but we don't pry into private lives or have any formal dress code."

Tamtang campaigns for access to safe and legal abortion in Thailand, mainly through consultations and coordination. It has developed this sandbox to narrow the gap between law and reality. Opened in August last year, the clinic has already served around 1,400 pregnant women, including Thais and foreigners.

Abortion had been illegal in Thailand since 1957 until an amendment in early 2021. Criteria for legal abortion include threat to a mother's life, foetal defect, and sexual assault. It allows termination for women who are up to 12 weeks pregnant, and women who are 12-20 weeks pregnant after medical consultation. Women over 15 can seek abortion without parental consent.