Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi has scheduled a meeting next Monday with the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) to discuss the rejection of abortion in the Government Regulation No.61/2014 on reproductive health.

"We will meet again next Monday to familiarize the matters related to abortion to the IDI and all the stakeholders because it is the mandate of the law," Nafsiah emphasized here on Friday.

On separate occasions, IDI voiced its rejection to the implementation of abortion because it was deemed contrary to the medical code of ethics, while the regulation No.61/2014 allowed rape victims to have an abortion.

The minister admitted that the implementation of the regulation should be familiarized, and therefore, it will be discussed during the meeting on Monday.

Nafsiah had earlier remarked that IDI should have permitted abortion because for rape victims it was the mandate of the law and has been discussed before.

She noted that the issue has been discussed with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which allowed abortion to be performed within the first 40 days of pregnancy.

"Abortion is the mandate of the law and is not my decision. Thus, it must be implemented," the minister stated.

(O001/INE/a014)

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Editor: Suryanto
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