Few details on access to abortion pill in Brandon

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This article was published 22/07/2017 (3232 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba government moved this week to provide the abortion pill Mifegymiso free of charge, at two locations in Winnipeg, and one in Brandon, which already provide surgical abortions.

However, officials with the province and Prairie Mountain Health were evasive on Friday regarding where in Brandon the drug would be available, and why it would only be available in Manitoba’s two largest cities.

Questions from The Brandon Sun to Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen were redirected to Minister Rochelle Squires, who is responsible for the status of women. However, Squires was away on Friday and unable to take questions.

In the wake of the announcement, which was made on Thursday, there are concerns about accessibility of mifegymiso for rural and northern women and girls, as well as those without access to transportation.

NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine called the lack of accessibility with regard to Mifegymiso highly problematic, and insulting to women who don’t have access to travel to Brandon or Winnipeg.

“The only difference is that the women who already have access to these three sites now have another option,” Fontaine said. “By not putting in a plan to distribute and make accessible this abortion pill so that every woman and girl in Manitoba can have access, it really does show a complete lack of regard for northern and rural women and girls reproductive health.”

If a woman wishes to obtain a prescription for Mifegymiso outside of the three approved clinics in Winnipeg and Brandon, they will have to pay a partial or full cost.

“Prescribed patients will have to pay out of pocket unless they’ve met their pharmacare deductible or are on EIA (Employment and Income Assistance),” said Andrea Slobodian, a representative for Squires.

Fontaine called this a two-tiered care system for rural and northern women.

“I would suggest to Manitobans that this government is not for women and girls’ reproductive health when some women can access this abortion pill and others cannot,” Fontaine said.

“It’s absolutely insulting when you put a structure in place that creates a two-tiered system for women; those with a car or who can take the bus within the city, and those who cannot.”

When asked about the government’s plans to distribute Mifegymiso and make it accessible to all Manitoban women, Slobodian said doctors outside of Brandon and Winnipeg will be able to prescribe the drug once they complete an online training course.

“Availability will depend on where doctors take the training course to be able to prescribe the drug and where pharmacies stock it.”

The Pallister government announced Thursday its plans for making the product available in Winnipeg and Brandon.

“Mifegymiso will be an eligible benefit through pharmacare. Women who choose to access the drug through a family physician or specialist will not have to pay for the drug if they have reached their Manitoba pharmacare deductible,” Squires said in an email statement. “Once the drug is a pharmacare benefit, women on Employment and Income Assistance will have access to treatment at no cost.”

CBC reported this week that the Brandon Regional Health Centre would be the Westman location where Mifegymiso would be accessible, but according to Prairie Mountain Health those details are yet to be finalized.

PMH added that it would not be commenting further at this time.

Mifegymiso was just added to the formulary because it’s a new drug that just became available to Canadians in January 2017.

After the drug was approved by Health Canada, it went through the Common Drug Review, which evaluates new drugs to decide whether they will be covered by public drug plans. Then, the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance together with the manufacturer, decide on a price.

Administration of Mifegymiso will be reviewed by the province in six months.

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