The NDP, local doctors, and the Universal Access to Contraceptive Sask. advocacy group are calling on the Sask. Party Government to implement universal no-cost prescription contraceptives in the province.
The NDP also announced their commitment to implementing free contraceptives in the province if they succeed in the next provincial election scheduled for 2024.
However, the NDP says this needs to come into effect sooner than later as there is a high rate of unintended and terminated pregnancies in the province according to local doctors who spoke out today with the NDP.
“Unwanted pregnancies can jeopardize women’s health, they can take them out of the workforce, and they can create a burden on our health care system and on taxpayers. Universal no-cost coverage for prescription contraceptives can help prevent all of this,” says Status of Women Critic Jennifer Bowes.
“Women deserve to have control of their lives and removing the cost barrier to contraceptives will help do just that. Universal no-cost coverage for prescription contraceptives will save taxpayer money and help women fully participate in our economy. This is healthcare, a cost-saver, and a no-brainer.”
The biggest barrier that women face when trying to receive contraception is the cost.
The birth control pill can cost anywhere from $20 – $30 monthly which equals out to a minimum of $240 per year and the IUD which is a long-term contraceptive cost roughly $400 upfront.
“That cost is a massive barrier that people are experiencing in making decisions about their reproductive health and they are not having the autonomy to make the decisions that are best for them because of this barrier,” says Natisha Thakkar, medical student and member of the Universal Access to Contraceptive Sask. advocacy group.
Thakkar along with other medical students and doctors point out that there is a large group of women who don’t have private benefits to help cover some of the cost of contraceptives and they don’t qualify to have the costs covered under social programming.
The NDP, local doctors, and medical students say that implementing free universal contraceptives will actually save the government and taxpayers money in termination and delivery costs.
“Currently in Regina, termination of pregnancy costs the system about $2200 and a live birth without complications is about $8000 so that equates contraception for a year for 33 women,” says Thakkar.
The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada estimated that the direct cost of unintended pregnancies in Canada is more than $320 million, while the Canadian Medical Association Journal said the cost of a national contraceptive coverage program would be less than half of that at $157 million.
“The health and societal benefits of covering prescription contraceptives at no cost will drastically improve health outcomes here in Saskatchewan. We have seen a significant increase in the uptake of effective contraceptive methods in jurisdictions that have removed these cost barriers. Access to effective contraception leads to fewer unintended pregnancies which in turn leads to fewer pregnancy terminations and fewer miscarriages,” said Dr. Christine Lett, Regina Area Department Lead of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
“The good news is that the return on investment is outstanding. A cost analysis of universal publicly funded family planning in the U.S. demonstrated that for every dollar spent on family planning, the system saved over seven dollars. It’s time we start to seriously discuss universal no-cost contraception in Saskatchewan.”
Lett added that in her clinic she sees this issue of affordability barriers and unintended pregnancies in 1 in every 10 women.
The NDP is questioning the Sask. Party Government on implementing universal no-cost prescription contraceptives in the province today during Question Period.