The Women’s Health Clinic wants the provincial government to add condoms and emergency contraceptives to the list of free birth control available starting Oct. 1.
The non-profit feminist clinic in Winnipeg issued a news release Friday saying that the plan to provide 60 different types of birth control free of charge to Manitobans without any prescription drug coverage doesn’t go far enough.
“While this is a positive step for reproductive rights in our province, (the clinic) is disappointed to see emergency contraceptives, or the ‘morning after’ pill, as well as condoms were not included in the list of birth control options covered by Pharmacare,” it said.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
The Women’s Health Clinic in Winnipeg says the province’s plan to provide different types of birth control free of charge to Manitobans without any prescription drug coverage doesn’t go far enough.
“Not every person wants to or is able to use hormonal birth control for a variety of reasons, the press release said.
“Condoms are 79 to 99 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy (depending on usage) and are one of the only methods of birth control that also protect from (sexually transmitted infection),” it said.
Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara told the Free Press Tuesday that the plan, for now, is to provide free prescription contraceptives, and that neither condoms nor emergency contraceptives, also known as Plan B and the morning-after pill, require a prescription. The minister said that the morning-after pill “has come up as an area of interest,” and that “we’re exploring ways to improve access to that if folks need it.”