February 21st, 2017.
Recent PIC newsletters and releases reported that Mifegymiso (also known as the abortion pill) was approved by Health Canada last year after a lengthy delay, and that the first shipments of it have now arrived in Canada.
However, as noted in an article linked to our November 2016 newsletter (Issues 11), a prescription for the drug, which will cost $425 in Ottawa, is not yet covered by any province except Quebec.
This will put Mifegymiso beyond the reach of many women for whom the need is often greatest and who are the least able to pay.
Planned Parenthood Ottawa is spearheading a petition calling on the Ontario Minister of Health to fund Mifegymiso through OHIP. If approved, the cost of the drug to OHIP would be half that of an abortion (a procedure already covered by OHIP), making its approval – in addition to other obvious health and psychological benefits for the patient – a compelling, cost-saving decision for OHIP.
Contact: Madeline Weld, PhD.
President, Population Institute Canada
Tel: (613)833-3668
Email: mail@populationinstitutecanada.ca
www.populationinstitutecanada.ca |
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