SINGAPORE : Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Wednesday said that one less abortion does not mean one more baby for Singapore.

He was responding to a question by MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Christopher de Souza on whether the Abortion Act should be amended as Singapore now needs to increase its population.

Mr Khaw informed the House that Hong Kong and Poland do not allow abortions, yet have one of the world's lowest birth rates.

As for whether the 24-week gestational limit for unrestricted abortions should be lowered, the minister said medical evidence showed that survival rates for babies born between 22 and 24 weeks dipped sharply.

They were also more likely to be born with moderate to severe disabilities.

Mr de Souza also asked if there could be a framework, similar to organ donation, to match couples seeking to adopt with pregnant women considering abortion.

Mr Khaw said this was already being done and a small percentage of mothers do keep their babies after being counselled.

He said: "The empirical experience is - often the mothers who decide to keep the pregnancy, then decide to keep the babies as well. So it is not as if 100 per cent will then end up (being) adopted." - CNA/ms