A Norwegian organization providing critical support for women facing pregnancy decisions may shut down after the government proposed eliminating its dedicated funding. Amathea Foundation offers free counseling and follow-up care for women and couples dealing with abortion-related questions.
Stine Næss-Hartmann shared her personal experience with miscarriage in 2022. "It was painful both physically and mentally," she said. "I couldn't get any words out and just cried. I was very glad I found out about Amathea."
The foundation received 24.4 million Norwegian kroner in earmarked funds last year. Now the government wants to move this money to a general grant program for sexual health services.
"This was vital for me," Næss-Hartmann stated. "I really hope they understand what the ripple effects could be if this service disappears."
Last year, Amathea conducted approximately 3,000 pregnancy choice conversations and 1,500 post-abortion follow-up sessions. They also held 1,091 individual contraception consultations.
Their services reached women from 137 different municipalities for choice conversations and 109 municipalities for post-abortion care.
Amathea's director expressed alarm about the potential closure. "For us, it's like pressing the big red button," she said. "There are 72 days left of the year, and then we have zero kroner."
She also noted the lack of prior dialogue with government departments about this change.
The government defends its position by emphasizing transparency and equal treatment in distributing state grants. Officials want most subsidies allocated through application-based systems rather than earmarked funds.
State Secretary Ellen Moen Rønning-Arnesen explained the proposed change in an email. "We propose a new grant scheme for sexual health that will follow up and support measures in the sexual health strategy," she wrote.
She stressed that the total funding for the field remains unchanged at 90.3 million kroner. Amathea can still apply for funding through the new system.
Norway introduced a new abortion law four months ago that gives women legal rights to counseling before and after abortion. The government claims public health services should provide this care.
Næss-Hartmann recalls that neither hospitals nor her general practitioner could provide the follow-up care she needed after her miscarriage. The hospital gave her Amathea's contact information instead.
"I don't know where I would have been without that help today," she said desperately. "It's a service that hospitals, GPs or other services cannot cover."
The situation highlights the tension between government efficiency measures and specialized nonprofit services that fill critical gaps in public healthcare.
Amathea must now decide whether to apply for funding through the new competitive system or face potential closure by year's end.