Washington D.C., Jun 1, 2017 / 05:02 am
The controversial abortion provider Planned Parenthood has lost over half a million unique patients in five years, but its abortion figures remain the same – a consistency its critics have blasted.
"While non-abortion services are declining, Planned Parenthood continues to perform a record number of abortions – over 300,000 per year," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, Susan B. Anthony List president.
"They've performed more than 1.6 million abortions in the last five years alone."
The pro-life group, citing the abortion provider's own annual reports, said that in the period from 2011-2016 Planned Parenthood's number of unique patients have dropped by 600,000, a 20 percent decline. Cancer screenings have halved, while contraceptive services are down 18 percent. STD screenings have dropped five percent.
At the same time, its abortion numbers are stable. In the last five years, Planned Parenthood performed about 11,290 adoption referrals total. That makes a ratio of 145 abortions for each adoption referral.
"Women are turning away from abortion giant Planned Parenthood," Dannenfelser said. "It's time to re-direct Planned Parenthood's funding to community health centers."
"Taxpayers would be disentangled from the grisly abortion industry and get a better return on their investment in women's health," she said.
While the abortion provider enjoyed protection and influence under the Obama administration, the U.S. House of Representatives has now passed a bill that would defund Planned Parenthood for one year. The proposal would shift $422 million to community health care centers.
The Susan B. Anthony List backs the shift, saying that community health centers have strong bipartisan support and work in under-served communities. The centers provide mammograms, mental heath services, and other care for women that is not available at Planned Parenthood.
The abortion provider's latest annual report said its website has received nearly 70 million visitors from 2015-2016. The report claims 75 percent of Americans support continued Medicaid reimbursement for preventive care at Planned Parenthood.
The report describes attacks on Planned Parenthood as having reached "fever pitch," citing "a record number of state laws" regulating abortion. The organization claimed to have nearly 650 Planned Parenthood health centers in the year 2015.
The organization is struggling in some parts of the country. Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains recently announced the closure of six facilities in its region due to financial concerns, including its only Wyoming clinic. Four Iowa facilities will also close.
The abortion provider is under scrutiny after the release of investigative reports beginning in 2015 appearing to show Planned Parenthood leaders involved in the illegal sale of unborn baby parts and other fetal tissue for profit. The reports prompted a multi-million dollar damage control campaign from Planned Parenthood and its allies like the Open Society Foundations, the Hewlett Foundation and the Democracy Alliance, records from the Open Society Foundations indicate.