The province made the announcement in its budget presented in February, which allocated $119 million over three years to this project. Finance Minister Katrine Conroy said that British Columbia was now a pioneer in this area in Canada.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff, President and Co-Founder of the AccessBC Campaign, is excited to see this day come. For six years, he campaigned with his team for free contraceptive methods to be granted.
« British Columbia started a movement in Canada. What we see are politicians and members of civil society talking about free prescription contraception. […] It’s fantastic. »
What contraceptives are covered?
From now on, the methods covered include hormonal and oral contraceptive methods as well as certain devices.
It is :
-
to pills;
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hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) (the IUD, for example);
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the copper intrauterine device;
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l’injection d’hormones;
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l’implant hormonal;
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the morning after pill (without a prescription).
The province assures that the list is not exhaustive and that the products covered will evolve over time. Currently, cervical caps, condoms, diaphragms, contraceptive patches, rings or even sponges are not covered by PharmaCare.
As AccessBC points out, a DIU can cost up to $500, birth control pills run to at least $240 a year, an implant costs $350, and hormone injections cost up to $180 a year. These costs are a significant barrier to accessing contraception for many
acknowledges Teale Phelps Bondaroff.
Who is concerned?
Age does not limit access to contraception. Coverage is for all girls and women who wish to use a contraceptive method.
According to the Ministry of Health, this gratuity reflects the government’s commitment to support equitable access to contraception for all.
She goes in the direction of recognition of the right of residents of British Columbia to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health
.
On Friday in Vancouver, the premier of British Columbia, David Eby, promoted the free use of certain contraceptive methods.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Ben Nelms (CBC)
What should you do?
There is no need to register or complete any form to benefit from this cover. Contraceptives are available at most community pharmacies. However, you must have a medical prescription (except for the morning after pill) and bring your health card.
The government clarifies that contraceptive methods can be prescribed for any reason, even for non-contraceptive use, such as the prevention of osteoporosis, for example.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff believes the province is going further than removing the cost barrier. Because, later in the spring, it will allow pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptive methods.
The role of British Columbia pharmacists will be expanded to ensure free access to contraception.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Camille Bourdeau
A matter of public health
That’s very good news
says Tess Vanderhaeghe, sexual health educator.
However, she wonders:2023 it’s still new and that we are the first province to offer it knowing that contraception is a public health issue?”,”text”:”How come in 2023 it’s still new and that we are the first province to offer it knowing that contraception is a matter of public health?”}}”>How is it that in 2023, this is still a novelty and that we are the first province to offer it, knowing that contraception is a public health issue?
The educator observes, during her workshops on sexual health, that the question of contraceptive methods arises among young people from the 8th grade.
« Here we really start to talk in detail about the different contraceptive options. […] Especially when we start talking about how condoms work, how we use them. »
It’s important that we talk about it
says Tess Vanderhaeghe, although most students are not yet sexually active in grade 8. You have to know how all these things work before you need them.
she believes. You really need to have a good understanding of how [la conception hormonale] works, how the body works and how it works on the body.
Speaking of free contraceptives, she got some students who were happy
news.
« This is a very important step forward for young people, because you have access to contraception before you turn 18, but you don’t have access to your own health insurance. »
Whether it’s the barrier of the parents or that of the cost, it is important that the young person can make this decision in relation to his or her own body without having to go through parental authorization.