Ministerial Order No. 52/85, 26 January 1985
Annual Review of Population Law 15: 12 293-6
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0364-3417 PMID: 12289163 Document Number: 383750
In January 1985, the Portuguese Ministry of Health issued an order which regulates family planning (FP) services and centers for youth counseling. This document provides major provisions of this order including the requirement that FP services be introduced in all health centers and hospitals offering gynecological and obstetrical services within one year. The FP services will offer information and counseling on choosing a FP method, the provision of a FP method, supervision of the use of the method, information on women's reproductive health, counseling in cases of infertility, and provision of information on adoption. Youth counseling centers will provide information on reproductive anatomy and physiology, information and counseling on sexual activity, and contraceptives. All individuals and couples and sexually mature youth will have the right of access to these services free of charge. Further provisions cover the publication of information about FP, the training of FP professionals, aspects of the training curriculum for FP professionals, and the fact that all information which the FP professionals receive in the performance of their duties will be regarded as privileged.