Eased restrictions on abortion pill not bringing accessibility to Manitoba: NDP

After Health Canada eased the restrictions on the abortion pill Mifegymiso, the Manitoba New Democrats are asking when there will be better accessibility across theprovince.

Despite the easing of restrictions the abortion pill is currently only availablefree of charge in Winnipeg and Brandon. People outside of those locations have to pay upwards of $300.

In question period on Wednesday, NDP justice critic Nahanni Fontaine said the province's current regulations "severely and unjustly discriminate against women and girls in northern communities."

• Health Canada eases restrictions on abortion pill Mifegymiso
• Manitoba to cover cost of abortion pill Mifegymiso at approved centres

Mifegymiso is a combination product containing two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol, which are used in sequence to terminate a pregnancy. Advocates for the medication have said it will help make an abortion more accessible in Canada, especially for women in rural and remote areas who are currently forced to travel to find a provider.

On Tuesday, Health Canada announced changes to how the medication is prescribed and dispensed. The drug, initially known as RU-486, can now be dispensed directly to patients by a pharmacist or prescribing health professional.

Women will also no longer be required to provide written consent to take Mifegymiso, nor will health professionals need to register with the drug's distributor, Celopharma, to prescribe or dispense it.

However Health Canada still requires amandatory ultrasound to ensure patients don't have an ectopic pregnancy one outside the uterus and an assessment of the length of gestation.

Health Canada originally approved Mifegymiso in July 2015 and it sells for about $300.

• Abortion pill cost should be covered, expert panel recommends

Over the summerthe Province of Manitoba announced itwill be free of charge for patients as long as they go to Brandon Regional Health Centre, the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg or the Women's Health Clinic in Winnipeg where they also provide surgical abortions.

Outside of those places, the drug is notfree and while it has become an eligible benefit under Pharmacare,those patients would still have to pay out of pocket unless they've met their Pharmacare deductible for the year or are on Employment and Income Assistance.

Province not doing enough: Fontaine

In question period, Rochelle Squires, the minister responsible for the status of women, said doctors and pharmacists are enabled and empowered to make decisions involving their patient care.

"It's a private conversation between a doctor and her patient," she said in response to a question about increasing accessibility.

Fontaine said that's not doing enough, particularly when it's most difficult and expensive for Indigenous women and womenin rural or isolated communities to get Mifegymiso.

"They are attempting to put in other obstacles in respect of accessibility for all Manitoba women and girls to the abortion pill and I think that is so egregious and it is such an affront to women and girls rights to our reproductive health," Fontaine said in an interview following question period.

While the Women's Health Clinic in Winnipeg will provide drug next week, in an emailed statement executive director Theresa Oswald said "we are pleased with this decision as it will increase access to this important drug across Canada."

KelvinGoertzen, Manitoba's Health Minister, did not respond to questions aboutMifegymisoduring question period.