The Government of Ontario is supporting women’s reproductive health, and will begin making an abortion pill available at no cost.
As of August 10, women with a valid health card and a prescription from a doctor or nurse practitioner will be able to get Mifegymiso for free at participating pharmacies. Mifegymiso is a safe and effective medical alternative to surgical abortion, according to the province.
“We continue to make important progress helping women across Ontario gain access to the health care they need,” said Indira Naidoo-Harris, Minister of the Status of Women, in a statement. “The commitment to publicly funding Mifegymiso means women across Ontario will have fair and equal access to safe abortion without payment, judgment or exception.”
The province calls Mifegymiso, which is taken to medically terminate an early pregnancy, a “non-invasive alternative” to a surgical abortion that women can administer themselves.
By having it available for free, Ontario says that it is giving women more autonomy around their reproductive health, removing a financial barrier, and increasing equity of access to abortion — particularly in rural and remote areas.
Mifegymiso is the only brand of the drug currently approved by Health Canada for safely terminating early pregnancies, up to 49 days from the start of the last menstrual period.
“In over 60 countries, for nearly 30 years, Mifegymiso has been a safe and accessible abortion option,” said Sarah Hobbs-Blyth, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Toronto. “Provincial funding for reliable medical abortion is the right decision. The people of Ontario deserve reproductive healthcare regardless of income or location.”
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