AccessBC Campaign - Time to Expand Free Prescription Contraception in BC!

Media Advisory - September 23, 2024

The AccessBC Campaign, the grassroots movement that successfully advocated for universal access to no-cost prescription contraception in BC, is recognizing World Contraception Day (September 26, 2024) by applauding the provincial government’s leadership in reproductive justice and calling for further expansion of the policy.

“The government of BC showed its commitment to reproductive justice and became a national leader when it made free prescription contraception a reality in April 2023, but there is more work to be done,” said Teale Phelps Bondaroff, AccessBC Campaign chair and co-founder. “This World Contraception Day, as we celebrate the amazing progress that has been made, we also reflect on the additional improvements that are still needed.”

This World Contraception Day, AccessBC is calling on the government to take further action to improve access to sexual and reproductive healthcare in the province by:

Expanding coverage to include additional types and brands of contraceptives, including the patch, Lo Loestrin Fe (also known as Lolo, a “low-dose” pill), Slynd (an estrogen-free pill), and Ella (a form of emergency contraception);
Increasing the number of medical professionals trained in intrauterine device (IUD) and implant insertion;
Improving pain management relating to IUD insertion; and
Continuing to improve access to contraceptive pills by making some available over the counter.

“We urge the government to build on this success by expanding the program, improving pain management for IUD insertions, increasing the number of trained medical professionals, and addressing additional barriers,” said Phelps Bondaroff. “Free prescription contraception has already helped transform lives and improve the health and well-being of thousands of British Columbians. There is much to celebrate, but still more work to be done.”

As of April 1, 2023, BC became the first province in Canada to make most prescription contraceptives free. The 2023 provincial budget allocated $119 million over three years to fund this program, covering a wide range of options including most oral contraceptive pills, injections, hormonal rings, copper and hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs), implants, and emergency contraception (Plan B).

A government of BC press release dated Dec. 8, 2023, reported that between April 1 and November 28 in 2023, more than 188,000 people received free contraceptives. More than 123,000 people received hormonal pill contraceptives, more than 30,000 people received intrauterine devices (IUD) and more than 37,000 people obtained emergency contraceptives.

A recent article in the Martlet reported that in the first 15 months of the program, 252,000 British Columbians access free prescription contraception: 152,200 patients accessed hormonal pills, 48,200 accessed hormonal IUDs, 9,500 patients received hormonal injections, 7,500 received a copper IUD, 7,400 had an implant, and 2,000 received a vaginal ring.

The success of AccessBC’s initiative has sparked similar movements across Canada, with grassroots campaigns now active in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Manitoba will become the second province to implement this policy as of October 1, 2024.

Bill C-64, the national pharmacare plan, will help offer universal, first dollar coverage for prescription contraception and diabetes medications. At the moment, this Bill is in the Senate, and the AccessBC Campaign and allies are currently running a national letter writing campaign urging Senators to adopt the Bill quickly and without amendments.

“Free prescription contraception is a fantastic policy that improves health outcomes, makes life more affordable, makes life more equal, and saves governments money,” said Phelps Bondaroff. “We hope to see every province and territory across Canada follow the lead of British Columbia and make prescription contraception universally available at no cost.”

Studies have found that free prescription contraception is a revenue-positive policy. The Contraception and Abortion Research Team (CART) at UBC, recently estimated that free prescription contraception should save the government of BC $27 million per year (or $5 per resident). A 2015 study in the Canadian Association Medical Journal estimated the cost of delivering universal contraception in Canada at $157 million, but the savings – in the form of direct medical costs of unintended pregnancy – are estimated at $320 million.

“The day that BC made contraception free, I got messages from people all over the province. Medical practitioners were excited about what this would mean for their patients, and friends were thrilled that they could finally afford an IUD,” said Devon Black, AccessBC Campaign national liaison and co-founder. “Making contraception free for everyone is a commitment to reproductive rights, to sexual health and wellbeing, and to gender equality. I am proud that our efforts are helping to inspire change across the country, and am grateful to all of the advocates who are stepping up and pushing for reproductive justice.”