GOP gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino called on state Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah to resign after The Post revealed that his agency is failing to inspect abortion clinics.
“It’s been 48 hours since the New York Post published its blockbuster story about abortion clinics not being inspected in New York — in many cases for up to 13 years — and neither the Governor’s Office nor the Health Department has yet to say a word about it,” Astorino said.
“The lack of response is alarming.”
Eight of the 25 abortion clinics subject to state inspections had not been inspected at all since 2000, according to documents the Health Department provided in response to a lawsuit filed by the Chiaroscuro Foundation.
Five were inspected just once over that period.
There are believed to be a total of 225 abortion providers in New York state.
“Regardless of anyone’s feelings about abortion, these clinics must be clean and safe to protect women who are receiving services there, yet the state Health Department has completely ignored its responsibility to ensure that,” Astorino charged.
Astorino opposes abortion. Gov. Andrew Cuomo supports abortion rights.
Astorino also objected to the refusal of the Health Department — which cited safety concerns for workers — to identify the names and locations of the clinics that were inspected.
The Republican candidate also rapped Shah for delaying a study requested by Cuomo on the health impact of hydrofracking in New York.
“But isn’t the state health commissioner supposed to be New York’s chief medical officer, not a political foil for Governor Cuomo?” Astorino said.
“For these reasons, I am calling on Commissioner Shah to resign as state health commissioner. And if he refuses, I call on Governor Cuomo to replace him.”
State legislators are demanding hearings to get answers.
“It’s kind of scary. The lack of inspections is really quite frightening,” said Staten Island state Sen. Diane Savino, a Democrat who supports abortion rights.
“These are facilities where women are seeking medical care. We shouldn’t allow these medical facilities to take second fiddle to inspections for tanning salons and restaurants.”
Brooklyn GOP Sen. Marty Golden called the situation “crazy.”
Restaurants are inspected annually, and tanning salons biannually.