NDP pledges reproductive care coverage, fast-tracked Pharmacare deal

Nova Scotia’s NDP is promising free reproductive care for Nova Scotians by pledging to sign an agreement with the federal government.

Party Leader Claudia Chender announced the plan at a news conference in Halifax’s West End on Wednesday morning. She said a bilateral agreement with Ottawa would include the funding of birth control and expanded reproductive health care in the province, including surgical abortions and the services of midwives.

“We would cover all forms of birth control, so the IUD, the sponge, the birth control pill … all of the approved forms of contraception,” said Chender.

Chender criticized Progressive Conservative leader Tim Houston for stalling negotiations on an agreement with the federal government.

“There is federal money on the table,” said Chender. “Tim prefers to squabble with Ottawa than work with the federal government to expand reproductive health care in this province,” said Chender.

Ottawa passes Pharmacare bill

The announcement follows October’s passing of Bill C-64, part of a national plan to increase Pharmacare coverage. The bill allows Ottawa to make agreements with provinces and territories to cover birth control and diabetes medications.

“We will act quickly to sign an agreement with the federal government to provide universal coverage for birth control,” said Chender. “Women and gender diverse people will no longer have to worry about paying to preserve their reproductive freedom.”

The NDP’s promise is most like British Columbia’s deal. Federal Health Minister Mark Holland said B.C. will see $195 million from the $1.5 billion national plan.

Nova Scotia, with one-fifth of B.C.’s population, would likely receive around $39 million, proportional to the $195 million B.C. received.

When asked, Chender said the exact cost to the provincial government is unclear before negotiations.

“This is a cost that ultimately would be a net savings for the government because we know that investments in birth control save a huge amount of public dollars upstream for women’s health,” said Chender.

Nova Scotia’s Liberals have pledged to improve women’s health care by increasing funding for women’s health research. They’d also create a minister of women’s health and expand access to menstrual products.

In a televised debate last week, Tim Houston said that Nova Scotia’s health-care system has expanded under his leadership. The Progressive Conservatives have added 2,200 long-term care beds and seen 100,000 patients attached to doctors. The party has not directly addressed reproductive health care in its campaign platform.

NDP aims to alleviate Nova Scotia’s ‘punishing’ costs 

The NDP’s promise is intended to lower significant costs for birth control and other medications for Nova Scotians. According to Statistics Canada, the cost of health and personal care has risen 0.7 per cent in Nova Scotia since June.

“We’ve gone from a difficult cost of living to a punishing cost of living,” said Chender.

P.E.I., which hasn’t yet signed the federal Pharmacare deal, launched a $5 copay program designed to limit out-of-pocket costs on prescription drugs in June 2023. As of February 2024, it’s saved residents over $2 million on 230,000 prescriptions.

Who would qualify for the NDP’s Pharmacare promise? According to Chender, you just have to “want it.”

“It’s that simple. I mean, this is really about choice and freedom,” said Chender. “Reproductive health care is health care, and it’s time that we treated it like that.”