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Costly contraceptive: birth control pills
Photo: Carol Yepes / Getty Images
The Canadian government wants to make contraceptives free for women. Canada's nine million women of reproductive age will be covered for the cost of the most commonly used pregnancy prevention methods, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said at a news conference at a Toronto pharmacy on Saturday. These include IUDs, hormone implants, the contraceptive pill or the morning-after pill.
"Women should be able to freely choose the contraceptives they need without the costs getting in their way," explained Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the online service X: "That's why we're making contraceptives free."
In Canada, the birth control pill costs up to 300 Canadian dollars (205 euros) a year, according to the government. The hormonal coil can therefore cost up to $500 each.
The current step is the first part of a comprehensive healthcare reform in Canada. It is also planned to cover the costs of diabetes medication for around 3.7 million Canadians. The cost and timing of the launch were not initially disclosed.
sak/AFP