Saskatchewan gov’t to cover cost of abortion pill

The Saskatchewan government announced Friday it would be joining the rest of the country in providing full coverage for the abortion drug Mifegymiso under the Saskatchewan Drug Plan.

Health Minister Jim Reiter was very matter-of-fact about the decision. He explained that he tasked the ministry with reviewing the proposal, it came back with the recommendation to fund the drug, and he’s now following that recommendation.

Reiter said bringing Saskatchewan in line with other provinces was a factor. With a similar decision from Manitoba last week, Saskatchewan is the final province to cover the drug.

Cost was also considered, Reiter noted. The drug could cost a patient up to $360 without any coverage, but he said many private health care plans covered the drug, as well as the provincial drug plan for those in the lowest-income bracket.

Reiter said accessibility considerations, on the other hand, weren’t much of a factor.

During the spring session, the NDP had argued in the legislature that the cost prohibited many people from accessing the drug and pharmacies from stocking it.

However, Reiter disagrees.

“It was accessible all along as far as availability, as far as getting a prescription,” he said. “The issue simply was who’s going to pay for it — is it going to be paid for by the province or is it going to be paid for by private individuals?”

Meanwhile, NDP MLA Vicki Mowat argues coverage for the drug will increase access.

“We know that when there is a full funding situation there is more availability of the drug as well, and because it’s safer and cheaper and less invasive, we see this as a no-brainer,” she said.

Regarding this decision, Mowat added all the pressure the NDP and other interested groups put on the government has paid off, and she’s not sure the government would have gone this far without it.

Reiter waved away NDP criticisms, saying it’s the opposition so that’s the party’s job.

When it comes to the reaction to this decision from the anti-abortion crowd, Reiter acknowledged that this is a very divisive issue and not everyone will be pleased with it.

“Medical procedures are not the kind of decisions that you necessarily want politicians making, so politicians need to look to medical professionals for advice. That’s why, right from the start, I said I’m going to ask the ministry to review it and, in all likelihood, going to follow their advice, and that’s what I’m doing,” he explained.

Reiter said the federal law is very clear on access to abortion services, and this is just a less invasive way of doing that.

Mifegymiso, also known as RU-486, has been available in Saskatchewan since 2017. It was the first oral product approved by Health Canada to terminate pregnancies of up to 49 days.

The coverage for drug is effective immediately.