Why is there no funding for birth control in the budget?

Yesterday I asked the Minister of Health why this year‘s budget didn’t include funding for free birth control. Below is our exchange:

SUSAN LEBLANC : Speaker, programs that offer free birth control have been shown to be revenue-positive, even in provinces that are funding these medications independently. The cost of providing free birth control is considerably lower than the costs associated with unintended pregnancy, and I can table that. Reproductive rights include access to birth control, and at a time when Nova Scotians are struggling financially, eliminating barriers to birth control is key to ensuring equal access and choice.

My question is for the Minister of Health and Wellness: Why is there no funding for birth control in the budget tabled yesterday?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON : Certainly, we currently have a number of programs in Nova Scotia. We offer support through the Family Pharmacare Program. Also, for those who have financial challenges, through the Department of Opportunities and Social Development, there is opportunity to cover birth control, as well as a variety of other ways. We appreciate the question. There has been a lot of advocacy done in regard to birth control. We continue to look at the program available through the federal government and negotiate our deals. Perhaps, there will be more to say in the future.

SUSAN LEBLANC: We need barrier-free access to birth control now. Another initiative that is good for women's health and good for our health care system is take-home HPV test kits. But again, there was no money in the budget for this. This is despite the fact that Nova Scotia Health Authority has said, "We are actively planning the introduction of HPV cell screening, but I understand that this program has not been funded yet by the government." I'll table that. My question for the minister is: Where is the funding for the take-home HPV test kits?

MICHELLE THOMPSON : Again, we are looking at a program for take-home HPV kits. We're working with clinicians to understand how best to roll out that program. There's nothing being held back. That program is not fully realized yet. We are working with the clinicians, who will look at that program and understand how it's best suited to the Nova Scotian environment.

Susan Leblanc pushes government to commit to free birth control for all in N.S.

SUSAN LEBLANC: My question is for the Minister of Health and Wellness. For many Nova Scotians, the cost of birth control prevents them from accessing this basic form of health care. It’s estimated that one in three Nova Scotian workers do not have health benefits, and not all benefit plans offer equal coverage of the care. Insufficient access to birth control leads to worsened health, well-being, and socio-economic outcomes for patients, families, and communities. The minister has worked extensively as a health care provider. Does she find it acceptable that so many Nova Scotians can’t access this important medication?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON: Certainly, we’re looking at universal birth control over the last number of months. We know that there are a number of people, through Family Pharmacare, who can access birth control, providing that there is a medication component. I certainly know in the instance of IUDs, in order for those to be covered under Family Pharmacare, there does need to be a medicinal and hormonal component to that. We continue to look at ways to support Nova Scotians. We also know that through the Department of Community Services, as well, there’s free birth control available to those who meet the criteria. We are working all the time to cover things that are important to Nova Scotians, and we’ll continue to do that review.

SUSAN LEBLANC: The minister will know that there are gaps in providing contraception. Earlier this year, British Columbia became the first province to provide access to free prescription contraception.Nova Scotia needs to follow suit. It’s estimated that for every dollar spent on contraception access, there’s up to $90 in public savings. The Access Now Nova Scotia Coalition has called on government to urgently address this issue, supported by organizations like the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia College of Family Physicians, the Dalhousie Department of Pediatrics, the Dalhousie Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the North End Community Health Centre, and many others. I will table that list. Will the minister commit to ensuring that every Nova Scotian has access to no-cost contraception?

MICHELLE THOMPSON: Our Pharmacare Program is under incredible pressure, as we all know. Not only do we have advancing technologies and therapies, but we also know the costs of drugs are going up. As a department, we continue to look at what we’re best able to supply to Nova Scotians. We want to make sure we have things that are accessible to them and that are needed. There are always competing priorities, and we will continue to balance and look at those over the coming months. We will do what we can to support Nova Scotians.