MOSCOW, April 10 (UPI) -- A bill that would ban abortion providers from advertising their services has advanced in the Russian parliament.
The measure was approved on first reading Tuesday by the lower house, the Duma, RIA Novosti reported.
Russia has one of the highest abortion rates in the world, a legacy of the Soviet era. It remains legal up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy for any reason and when medically necessary up to 22 weeks.
The government has been trying to discourage abortion, and the Russian Orthodox church opposes it.
The bill deals with a number of other healthcare issues, including banning drug companies from giving doctors money or other incentives and raising the ages at which minors can get medical tests and some procedures without parental consent.
