{"id":694293,"date":"2025-10-11T16:00:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T13:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/national-pharmacare-for-contraception-cant-wait\/"},"modified":"2025-10-11T16:00:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T13:00:22","slug":"national-pharmacare-for-contraception-cant-wait","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/national-pharmacare-for-contraception-cant-wait\/","title":{"rendered":"National pharmacare for contraception can&#8217;t wait"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a23e9b5bda40\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a23e9b5bda40\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/national-pharmacare-for-contraception-cant-wait\/#Why_affordable_birth_control_is_essential\" >Why affordable birth control is essential<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/national-pharmacare-for-contraception-cant-wait\/#Private_and_public_drug_plans\" >Private and public drug plans<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/national-pharmacare-for-contraception-cant-wait\/#Clear_evidence_for_pharmacare\" >Clear evidence for pharmacare<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tby Elizabeth Nethery, Amanda Black, Amanda K Downey, Laura Schummers, Wendy V. Norman, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-byline__link\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\">The Conversation<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2022\/contraceptive-1.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2022\/contraceptive-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Credit: Unsplash\/CC0 Public Domain\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2022\/contraceptive-1.jpg\" alt=\"contraceptive\" title=\"Credit: Unsplash\/CC0 Public Domain\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Credit: Unsplash\/CC0 Public Domain<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Why should women in British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and the Yukon have access to free contraception while the rest of Canadians do not? Our new research, published in the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmj-2024-083874\" target=\"_blank\"><i>British Medical Journal<\/i><\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jamapediatrics.2025.2585\" target=\"_blank\"><i>JAMA Pediatrics<\/i><\/a>, underscores the urgent need for universal pre<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">script<\/a>ion contraception coverage nationwide. Spoiler alert: cost matters.<\/p>\n<p>When B.C. launched universal coverage for prescription contraception in April 2023, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmj-2024-083874\" target=\"_blank\">more people<\/a> used contraceptives, and importantly, more chose the most effective methods. When Ontario introduced universal coverage for those younger than age 25 in January 2017, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jamapediatrics.2025.2585\" target=\"_blank\">we found<\/a> a similar jump in the most effective contraceptive methods.<\/p>\n<p>In October 2024, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.parl.ca\/documentviewer\/en\/44-1\/bill\/C-64\/first-reading\" target=\"_blank\">the National Pharmacare Act<\/a> received royal assent, establishing a framework for a national, universal, single-payer pharmacare program, beginning with free access to contraception and diabetes medications. Now, almost a year later, only four provinces and territories (B.C., Manitoba, P.E.I. and the Yukon) have bilateral agreements to implement this legislation on the ground.<\/p>\n<p>On Sept. 10, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the federal government is &#8220;<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/carney-pharmacare-deals-1.7631393\" target=\"_blank\">committed to signing pharmacare deals with all provinces and territories<\/a>.&#8221; This is welcome <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a> given previous statements in July by Health Minister Marjorie Michel indicating <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/montreal\/article\/advocates-question-fairness-as-federal-government-backs-away-from-pharmacare-program\" target=\"_blank\">wavering commitment<\/a> or that &#8220;<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ipolitics.ca\/2025\/09\/02\/feds-open-to-new-pharmacare-deals-depending-on-success-of-current-agreements-health-minister\/\" target=\"_blank\">all options are on the table<\/a>&#8221; for implementing Bill C-64 nationally.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_affordable_birth_control_is_essential\"><\/span>Why affordable birth control is essential<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As reproductive health policy researchers (including two health-care providers), we know that universal coverage for contraception is essential to uphold reproductive population health and to achieve gender equity in Canada. We have recently published evidence demonstrating the effect of universal contraception funding policies on contraception use, which reaffirms how critical this policy is in the Canadian context.<\/p>\n<p>Everyone in Canada, regardless of income or postal code, deserves access to the contraception that is right for them, without cost standing in the way. As former Federal Health Minister Mark Holland stated when <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0bFNwZehodw\" target=\"_blank\">announcing national pharmacare<\/a> on Feb. 29, 2024: &#8220;Waking up in a country where every single woman has access to the contraception she needs to control her future is an absolutely critical part of having a just society.&#8221; He added, &#8220;This is about health equity.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>When women can&#8217;t afford contraception, the risk of unplanned pregnancy increases. When contraception is accessible without financial or logistical barriers, women are more likely to plan pregnancies around their health, education, career and family goals. This benefits not only the individual but also children, families and society overall by improving gender equity in <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1377\/hlthaff.2022.00066\" target=\"_blank\">education<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1257\/app.4.3.225\" target=\"_blank\">workforce participation<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hamiltonproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/20230627_ES_THP_Bailey_Contraception_Paper.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">reducing poverty<\/a> and supporting better <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jama.2022.19097\" target=\"_blank\">health outcomes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond this, free contraception is a cost-effective policy, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/cart-grac.ubc.ca\/files\/2021\/04\/Contraception-Cost-Effectiveness_CART-Report_2018-06-21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">expected to <i>save<\/i> our health systems money<\/a> in the long term by reducing health-care costs linked with unplanned pregnancies.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Private_and_public_drug_plans\"><\/span>Private and public drug plans<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Some <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/opinion\/editorials\/article-the-liberals-costly-error-on-pharmacare\/\" target=\"_blank\">critics argue<\/a> that many Canadians already have drug insurance and plans that cover contraceptive costs. But that doesn&#8217;t tell the whole story.<\/p>\n<p>Most private and public plans do not cover 100% of prescription drug costs. Deductibles and co-pays leave patients paying at least a portion out-of-pocket, and some private plans exclude contraception altogether. The most <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sexandu.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Its-a-Plan-How-Effective-is-my-Birth-Control-E-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">effective contraceptives<\/a> (intrauterine devices (IUDs) and subdermal implants) can cost up to $450 up front, even with coverage.<\/p>\n<p>Many young people or those working in seasonal or temporary jobs don&#8217;t have drug insurance at all. Others choose to pay out-of-pocket to avoid having birth control charges show up on a shared plan with a partner, spouse or parent\u2014to preserve privacy. That is why first-dollar, universal coverage for contraception\u2014as outlined in federal pharmacare\u2014is essential. It guarantees access free from financial strain, coercion, loss of privacy or compromise.<\/p>\n<p>If Canada&#8217;s pre-existing mix of public and private insurance provided sufficient access to contraception, we would have seen little or no change when contraception became free in B.C. But we did see change. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmj-2024-083874\" target=\"_blank\">Our research<\/a> showed a 49% increase in the use of the most effective contraceptive methods when they were available at no cost.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Clear_evidence_for_pharmacare\"><\/span>Clear evidence for pharmacare<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This provides clear evidence that cost has been a barrier for individuals in B.C. and highlights a critical point: without universal coverage, many Canadians simply cannot afford their preferred method of birth control. When costs are taken out of the equation, more people choose the most effective contraception methods.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, when Ontario provided universal prescription coverage for youth 24 years old or younger in 2018, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jamapediatrics.2025.2585\" target=\"_blank\">we found<\/a> that prescriptions for IUDs and oral contraceptive pills jumped, with the greatest increases for those in low-income areas.<\/p>\n<p>When this coverage was revised to exclude those with private insurance, use declined. This shows us that private insurance is inadequate to cover gaps in contraception needs, especially for youth.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/newfoundland-labrador\/nl-pharmacare-1.7595027\" target=\"_blank\">All Canadians<\/a> seeking to manage their reproductive futures deserve equitable access to safe, effective and affordable contraception. Our new findings show just how strongly cost influences these choices.<\/p>\n<p>The federal government has promised to implement national pharmacare, starting with contraception (and diabetes medication). On Sept. 2, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ipolitics.ca\/2025\/09\/02\/feds-open-to-new-pharmacare-deals-depending-on-success-of-current-agreements-health-minister\/\" target=\"_blank\">Michel said<\/a> &#8220;We are tracking those [agreements] that have already been done to see how it works.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The evidence is now available and is clear: pharmacare works. Our analysis of B.C.&#8221;s policy shows the clear public health benefits that could result from expanding pharmacare and making no-cost contraception a reality for all Canadians. Further, our analysis of Ontario&#8217;s experience shows that a watered-down version of pharmacare policy (like Ontario&#8217;s policy for youth since 2019) does not suffice.<\/p>\n<p>All Canadians, regardless of where they live, deserve access to the contraception that they need to control and plan their reproductive health futures. Now is the time to implement universal, first-payer coverage for contraception for all Canadians.<\/p>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium my-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvided by<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Conversation<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use href=\"https:\/\/medx.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v6\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"article-main__note mt-4\">\n                                                This article is republished from <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/the-evidence-is-clear-national-pharmacare-for-contraception-cant-wait-264967\" target=\"_blank\">original article<\/a>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/264967\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\"\/>\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n                                                 <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                 The evidence is clear: National pharmacare for contraception can&#8217;t wait (2025, October 11)<br \/>\n                                                 retrieved 11 October 2025<br \/>\n                                                 from https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/news\/2025-10-evidence-national-pharmacare-contraception.html\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>\n                                            This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n                                            part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n                                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/news\/2025-10-evidence-national-pharmacare-contraception.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Elizabeth Nethery, Amanda Black, Amanda K Downey, Laura Schummers, Wendy V. Norman, The Conversation Credit: Unsplash\/CC0 Public Domain Why should women in British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and the Yukon have access to free contraception while the rest of Canadians do not? Our new research, published in the British Medical Journal and JAMA&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":694294,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2022\/contraceptive-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-694293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/694293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=694293"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/694293\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/694294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=694293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=694293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=694293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}