The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada updated its list of abortion clinics in Canada in April, but the Vancouver Island WomenB次元官网网址檚 Clinic in View Royal continues to be the only one on the Island.
Additionally, four hospitals B次元官网网址� soon to be five B次元官网网址� on the Island offer facilities for planned surgical abortions where providers can serve patients. Due to privacy reasons, the names of the hospitals were not disclosed by Island Health.
This means some women looking to have a surgical abortion on Vancouver Island may have to travel outside of their communities to receive one.
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B次元官网网址淚n the late B次元官网网址�90s and early 2000s one of the last things the NDP government did was they passed a regulation requiring certain hospitals to provide facilities for abortions,B次元官网网址� said Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada executive director Joyce Arthur. B次元官网网址淏ut thatB次元官网网址檚 deteriorated, some hospitals canB次元官网网址檛 because they need a doctor that can provide them.B次元官网网址�
Arthur said there is a shortage of abortion providers in areas farther from city centres. She said part of that has to do with harassment that can come from practising in a smaller town.
Dawn Fowler, executive director of the Vancouver Island WomenB次元官网网址檚 Clinic, said many patients come to the clinic from outside of Greater Victoria. Some have even travelled from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to seek abortion services.
Fowler said one of the reasons for this is because the clinicB次元官网网址檚 providers are able to perform abortions later in the term B次元官网网址� up to 23 weeks.
B次元官网网址淭here are fewer doctors that perform abortions in later gestational ages,B次元官网网址� Fowler said.
However, having to travel for a surgical abortion could be a major barrier for women who may not have access to a vehicle or cannot afford to travel.
Additionally, Fowler said there are still some doctors who are against abortions and will not refer their patients for surgery or medical abortions.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 unfortunate that in todayB次元官网网址檚 time and society you would encounter a physician who is not pro-choice and not supportive of their patientB次元官网网址檚 desires and needs but it does happen and thatB次元官网网址檚 the reality,B次元官网网址� Fowler said.
But the option for cost-covered medical abortions in B.C., through a drug called Mifepristone, has made access to safe abortions much better, according to Fowler.
The drug, which goes by the brand name Mifegymiso, is not the same as the morning-after pill. It is a combination of two medications that block the effect of progesterone and cause contractions of the uterus and relaxation of the cervix.
It has been cost-covered for B.C. residents with a valid MSP number since January 2018 but has been used around the world since 1988.
Patients with a valid prescription are able to access Mifegymiso at a pharmacy and are able to have a medical abortion if nine weeks pregnant or less.
B次元官网网址淢ifepristone has opened up access to abortions,B次元官网网址� Fowler said. B次元官网网址淵ou certainly donB次元官网网址檛 need the same infrastructure and skill level to do medical abortions compared to surgical abortions.B次元官网网址�
Arthur said that there is still work to be done when it comes to abortion access in Canada. She said with the amount of misinformation online, many women are misinformed about abortions or donB次元官网网址檛 know where to look for services and counselling.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to see Health Canada with a whole section on their website devoted to information on abortionB次元官网网址ow to access it, where to access it and information about the procedure, safety and side effects,B次元官网网址� Arthur said.
Both Arthur and Fowler said transportation, lack of support and unreliable resources online can make things more difficult for women looking to have an abortion.
B次元官网网址淏ut we are absolutely there for them and willing to help them out,B次元官网网址� Fowler said. B次元官网网址淭hey may have to leave their community to obtain the care that they want but itB次元官网网址檚 important that they get good care and well-supported care.B次元官网网址�
shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com
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