in 2018, the provincial government moved to provide universal, no-cost coverage of mifegymiso, the abortion pill. these pills now account for two-thirds of abortions in b.c. — but they cannot be used for all abortions, and surgical abortion services remain essential.
if you need a surgical abortion in b.c., you must travel to one of five clinics, all of which are in the south of the province. for people living in northern, rural, and remote areas of b.c., that can mean hundreds of dollars, time off work, plane tickets, gas money, and hotels, all to access an essential health-care service. these barriers are massive and unjust in a country that is supposed to pride itself on public health care.
health care is a provincial responsibility. this means that provincial governments have the responsibility, and the power, to provide health-care services to their citizens.
there are other outstanding health-care services that british columbians need, and that the government could easily provide. during the 2020 election, the b.c. ndp campaigned on a promise of providing free prescription contraception (which currently exists in the u.k., new zealand, and australia, among other countries). we’re still waiting for them to fulfil this promise, which would help relieve some of the financial burden women carry when it comes to birth control.