A Halifax sexual-health clinic that has for years been making birth control devices available for free to patients who can’t afford them has been forced to stop after running out of donations.
These quickly reversible birth control options cost between $350 and $420, and can prevent pregnancy for between three and 10 years. The federal government’s universal pharmacare legislation would cover IUDs and contraceptive implants, but Yoshida said she’s concerned about her patients who can’t afford birth control options while they wait to benefit from the coverage.
Yoshida said she is hopeful donations pick up in the meantime so the clinic can resume providing IUDs and contraceptive implants to those who can’t afford them until pharmacare is rolled out.