E/C.12/CRI/CO/5 Right to health 51. The Committee expresses its concern about the large number of people on waiting lists and the long waiting times for health-care services, in particular primary care services, owing in part to a lack of specialized medical personnel, appropriate infrastructure and equipment in some health-care facilities and a unified information system (art. 12). 52. The Committee recommends that the State party continue its efforts to reduce the number of people on waiting lists and waiting times, including by extending the use of the single electronic record system to all health facilities. The Committee also recommends that the State party strengthen infrastructure and equipment in the primary care system and ensure that hospitals have the necessary medical staff, supplies and medicines. The Committee draws the attention of the State party to its general comment No. 14 (2000) on the right to the highest attainable standard of health. Abortion 53. The Committee is concerned about the excessively restrictive abortion laws, since abortion is permitted only when there is a serious risk to the pregnant woman’s life or health. It is further concerned that, in practice, even in the case where the law does permit abortion, access to the procedure is not ensured, owing to the lack of protocols determining when the procedure should be carried out (art. 12). 54. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Amend its legislation on abortion to ensure its compatibility with other fundamental rights, such as women’s rights to life and physical and mental health, and to broaden the permitted circumstances; (b) Expedite the adoption of a protocol that ensures access to abortion when there is a risk to the pregnant woman’s life or health. Teenage pregnancy 55. The Committee is concerned about the high rates of teenage pregnancy due, in part, to a lack of adequate sexual and reproductive health services and information (art. 12). 56. The Committee recommends that the State party redouble its efforts to curb the high teenage pregnancy rate, ensure the accessibility and availability of sexual and reproductive health services for all women and adolescents, particularly in rural areas, and incorporate comprehensive, age-appropriate content on sexual and reproductive health into primary and secondary education curricula for both sexes. 57. The Committee draws the State party’s attention to its general comment No. 22 (2016) on the right to sexual and reproductive health. Right to education 58. The Committee is concerned about the limited availability of preschool education, especially for children from families living in unfavourable socioeconomic conditions. It is also concerned about the high repeat and dropout rates in secondary education and the reports received about the poor quality of education, in particular in rural and remote areas owing in part to a lack of adequate infrastructure and qualified teachers (art. 13). 59. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Step up its efforts to increase access to preschool education, in particular for children from families living in unfavourable socioeconomic conditions; GE.16-18309 9