The Canadian government wants to make prescription contraceptives completely free, with Ottawa detailing the first part of its national drug safety plan on Saturday.
Deputy Prime Minister Canadian Chrystia said nine million Canadian women will be offered “highly used” contraceptives such as the IUD (hormonal or copper), hormonal implant, birth control pill or morning-after pill. Freeland during a press conference at a Toronto pharmacy.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau added at X, “Women should be free to choose the contraceptives they need without a barrier — so we make it free.
In Canada, the birth control pill can cost up to 300 Canadian dollars (205 euros) a year, while the hormonal IUD can go for up to 500 dollars per unit, the government notes.
The announcement describes the first part of a bill announced in late February that, once enacted, would represent the largest expansion of its public health system in decades.
The plan would include coverage for diabetes medications like insulin for “more than 3.7 million Canadians.”
However, the cost and associated delays were not disclosed.
The central government now needs to get the agreement of the provinces responsible for health to implement the scheme.
However, some — notably Alberta and Quebec — have already announced they don't want to participate in the plan.
The drug plan follows lengthy negotiations between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberal government and his left-wing ally in parliament. The New Democratic Party (NDP) had conditioned its support on implementation of the plan.
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