At a time when regressions in terms of women’s rights are multiplying in the world, a Canadian province announces the future free prescription contraceptives. This is a first in the country. All people covered by health insurance will thus be able, upon presentation of a prescription, to obtain various means of contraception free of charge as of April 1, indicates the Minister of Finance of British Columbia Katrine Conroy, while stressing the importance to guarantee “reproductive rights.”
“Too often these fundamental rights are attacked,” she said during her speech. “Not here in British Columbia […] The time when women and trans and non-binary people were made to bear these costs is over,” added the minister before the provincial parliament. Methods covered will include most hormonal pills, implants, injections and intrauterine devices, such as the IUD, as well as the morning following pill. “It’s a victory for health and it’s a victory for gender equity in our province,” said the minister.
Savings of $10,000
At the rate of 25 Canadian dollars (or 17 francs) per month for birth control pills, the provincial government estimates that the people concerned might save up to 10,000 dollars over a lifetime. With this announcement, the Canadian province is following in the footsteps of several European countries, notably France, the United Kingdom and Germany, which already partially or universally subsidize contraception.
After making access to male condoms free for young people aged 18 to 25 in January, the French government plans in its next budget to provide free emergency contraception for all women as well as screening for certain sexually transmitted infections. for all, without medical prescription.
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The Canadian decision comes a few weeks following several associations denounced the increase in regressions in terms of women’s rights around the world. They cite in particular the right to abortion revoked by the Supreme Court in the United States or the restrictions on access to contraception in Poland.