Council backs gender equity for birth control costs

A Vernon city councillor’s motion to lobby the province to have all birth control covered under the Medical Services Plan (MSP) has been approved unanimously by council.

“Cost is a significant barrier to people accessing contraception, particularly to people with low incomes, youth, and people from marginalized communities,” Coun. Kelly Fehr said. “Providing free prescription contraception has been shown to improve health outcomes for parents and infants by reducing the risks associated with unintended pregnancy, and is likely to reduce direct medical costs on the provincial health system.”

Fehr’s motion points out contraceptive methods such as condoms or vasectomies are available at low cost, no cost, or are covered by B.C.’s Medical Services Plan, whereas all contraceptive methods for people with uteruses (such as birth control pills, intrauterine devices, or hormone injections) have high up-front costs, making access to contraception unequal and gendered.

The city will write the provincial minister of finance, the provincial minister of health, the premier of B.C., and the local MLA supporting universal no-cost access to all prescription contraception available in B.C. under MSP.

“I agree with the motion, but there are a lot of other drugs that should be covered too, for things like diabetes,” Coun. Scott Anderson said.

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