Home Births to Be Regulated in New Bill
Ministry of Social Affairs has drawn up a bill to regulate home births, a topic which is currently not addressed in the Health Care Services Organization Act.
“We will respect the wishes of those who want to give birth at home,” Minister for Social Affairs Taavi Rõivas said in a press release today.
Rõivas said the draft bill to modify the current Health Services Organization Act, will guarantee qualified midwives to women choosing to give birth at home.
Midwives who wish to offer the service will have to apply for a special permit from the Health Board, once the bill is passed.
Home births are not popular in Estonia, with only 0.3 to 0.5 percent of women choosing the option, well below the European average of 2 to 4 percent.
The bill will now be presented to other ministries and interested parties for comment.