Victoria women's health clinic calls for abortion pill coverage

Lack of provincial coverage for a recently approved abortion pill is pushing women to choose surgery for ending unwanted pregnancies, according to the head of a Victoria-areaclinic.

DawnFowler,the executive director of the Vancouver Island Women's Clinic, said British Columbia is the only province that does not cover the cost ofMifegymiso.

"If they decide they want to terminate a pregnancy, then price becomes a factor,"FowlertoldOn the IslandhostGregorCraigie.

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"Some women are accessing it quite easily, but the issue is we don't have universal coverage," Fowlersaid. For somewomen, the cost is covered byemployment health benefits, but those without private benefitsmust pay for the pill which costsabout $350.

Mifegymiso, known asRU-486outside of Canada, is a combination of two drugs,mifepristoneandmisoprostol. After years of study, Health Canada approved its use as a non-surgical option for abortion up to seven weeks.

The drugbecame available to the Canadian public in January.

Pill reduces demand, cost of surgery

FowlersaidMifegymisois recognized asthe "gold standard" for medical termination of pregnancies. In provinces where it is available without cost through the public health plan, she said, nearly 50 per cent of women choose it over a surgical abortion.

She said the medical abortion also saves the health system money over expensive surgery and reduces pressure on hospital operating room schedules.

Fowler said the clinic has written B.C. Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix about Medical Services Plan coverage for Mifegymiso.

On Tuesday, B.C.Health Minister Adrian Dix said the NDP government has heard theconcerns about access tothe drug and is planning improvementsas part of a broader women's health strategy.

"The new government came into office with some new perspectives on thisissue," Dix said. "We're on it."

Universal coverage forMifegymisois under consideration, Dix said outside the legislature. He said the government is also reviewing concernsthat, in some regions, the drug is only dispensed athospitalformularies instead of in doctor'soffices.

"The issue of expanding access is to ensure that people have access, not just in a hospital setting, but across British Columbia, and that's what we're working on right now," Dix said.

With files from Megan Thomas and On the Island