Bill would fund OB-GYN training abroad to fight childbirth injuries

What does this do?

HR 9015 would allow the U.S. government to fund fellowship and residency programs, plus training centers, to increase the number of doctors and midwives who can prevent and surgically repair obstetric fistula. Obstetric fistula is a childbirth injury caused by prolonged, difficult labor that creates an abnormal opening in a woman's body, leading to lifelong incontinence and serious health problems. The program would be managed through the National Institutes of Health's Fogarty International Center, and American universities and medical schools could serve as training partners.

Who does it affect?

The primary beneficiaries would be women in very low-income countries, particularly in parts of Africa and Asia where obstetric fistula is most common. U.S. taxpayers would fund the program, while doctors, midwives, and medical institutions abroad would receive the training and support.

Why does it matter?

The bill would direct the White House to produce a formal 10-year strategy for reducing the doctor shortage in the world's poorest countries, with a report due to Congress within two years and annual progress reports required after that. The strategy would need to address medical training, community education, research into medical and social causes, and building lasting local health care systems.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• Funded by U.S. taxpayers
• No cost figure specified
• Care delivered abroad, not in the U.S.

Where does it stand?