Recently on the Worldbytes forum Marge Berer, the editor of Reproductive Health Matters pointed out that Savita’s death was unusual because “she was a woman from the upper classes of India and her death occurred in a developed country where emergency obstetric care is highly developed.” Several other televised debates in India have already claimed that Savita would have found the care she needed in India. This is absolutely true.

Yet, India has a high rate of maternal deaths – 63,000 in 2008, which was the highest in the world. Earlier this year a UN report said that India was likely to miss the MDG goals. So, while it is imperative that India urge Ireland to protect the life of immigrants, it is also important for the country to critically reflect on the healthcare it offers to women at home – particularly those of the poorer soci-economic  classes, who often rely on state-run hospitals.

This disparity between the options available to women of different socio-economic classes is seen all around South and South East Asia, and the world. It has been argued many times by many left leaning feminists that abortion cannot be offered as a real, viable choice unless it is made affordable to all women who seek the service.

In many countries, the major barrier to affordable service is a stringent abortion law. Where abortion laws are liberal, the state can be held responsible for providing affordable abortion care, but where laws are restrictive, it becomes very difficult to hold the governments accountable. In such countries, women of the upper classes have the privilege of benefiting from private, clandestine abortion, which though illegal is safe. Women of the lower socio-economic classes have no choice but to opt for cheaper and often unsafe methods.

In some countries, like Indonesia, the backlash of restrictive laws is the rise of abortion blackmarkets, which Inna Hudaya, the founder of Samsara wrote about for ASAP earlier this year. (Read article here). Such blackmarkets have mushroomed in other Asian countries as well.

Savita’s death, which is tragic, particularly for her family, has once again brought the abortion debate to light. Because of her unique identity as an immigrant from the upper classes, this case has received much ink, and has caught the attention of the entire world. Very often such prominent incidents are beat to death in the media, and then buried when other international news emerges. But the protests and the vigils, and the sheer anger with which women around the world have received this news might also set this case apart: Ireland might legislate a new abortion law, and every country will have a chance to rethink religious dogma, and other restricting factors that prevent women from receiving the full spectrum of healthcare that they need.