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On April 1, British Columbia introduced a brand new coverage to offer free prescription contraception for all residents. Discussions surrounding Alberta’s stance have adopted. Whereas B.C. is the primary Canadian province to undertake free contraception, it isn’t the primary globally. Greater than 25 international locations worldwide, together with the UK, New Zealand and Australia, have provided sponsored or free contraception since way back to 1967.
As resident physicians in obstetrics and gynecology, we all know that common entry to contraception not solely advantages sufferers but in addition has substantial financial advantages.
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On a broader financial scale, free contraception saves taxpayer {dollars}. B.C.-based Choices for Sexual Well being estimates that for each $1 spent on contraceptive assist for a person, taxpayers could save as much as $90 in future social assist. In Canada, as much as 40 per cent of pregnancies are unintended and greater than half of those unintended pregnancies happen in folks not utilizing contraception. The direct value related to unintended pregnancies per yr in Canada is upwards of $320 million.
Enhancing entry to contraception is likely one of the finest means of accelerating its use, thereby decreasing the danger of unintended being pregnant. Comparatively, a latest information article quoted a value of solely $30 million in health-care {dollars} to make contraception free for all Alberta residents, representing lower than 0.05 per cent of Alberta’s total health-care funds.
On a person stage, it’s well-known that not all types of contraception are equal. The best types of contraception are sometimes probably the most initially cost-prohibitive for sufferers ($300 to $500 for an intrauterine machine, or IUD), even when that ends in longer-term financial savings. Price is a significant barrier to contraception, and when limitations of value, entry and data are eliminated, folks usually now not select the most affordable choices however as a substitute select the simplest and least user-dependent strategies (i.e. IUD or implant).
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By offering free contraception, the person lifetime projected financial savings are as much as $10,000. Moreover, this coverage would additionally promote equality by eliminating the monetary burden that disproportionately falls on ladies.
Moreover, many contraceptive choices provide extra than simply being pregnant prevention however are additionally a number of the best remedies for a lot of gynecologic situations. When adequately handled, sufferers expertise enchancment of their high quality of life, remedy for continual situations (endometriosis, cyclic ache syndromes, continual anemia) and danger discount for numerous kinds of most cancers (ovarian and endometrial). This interprets into fewer days of missed work, improved productiveness, and fewer reliance on extra invasive and costly remedies corresponding to surgical procedure. Remedy of those situations due to this fact not solely improves medical outcomes, but in addition affords financial advantages for the affected person, their households and society.
As resident medical doctors in gynecology, we supply the tales of our sufferers. We strongly imagine in these life-changing therapies as we now have seen the large impression of untreated gynecological situations and unplanned pregnancies on our sufferers’ lives. We imagine it’s our accountability to advocate for common entry to all types of contraception in order that our sufferers can select whichever methodology is finest for them. Price shouldn’t be a barrier to any medical remedy.
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Now we have witnessed the position that protected and efficient contraception can play in sufferers’ lives and are eager for the day when all Albertans have equal entry. We imagine that entry to common contraception is just not solely a reproductive proper, however a primary human proper.
We urge Albertans to voice their assist free of charge prescription contraception; we commend the NDP for his or her dedication to offering free contraception to all residents of Alberta; and we name on the UCP to make the identical dedication.
Drs. Danielle Chang, Carmen Petrick, and Mary Thompson are resident physicians in obstetrics and gynecology.
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