A group of medical students from the university of Dalhousie is lobbying the P.E.I administration to proffer abortion pills, i.e. Mifegymiso with free access. The PEI medical students team, with the utmost backing from the Dalhousie medical student society is preparing a trip to meet the local politicians in Charlottetown on 8th September in hopes of turning their plans into reality.
A letter was sent to the PEI MLAs’ just a while back, which contained the blueprint of the groups’ mission and therefore their request for an official meeting.
As per the students the goal of this initiative is to have a face to face discussion with the decision makers themselves. Many of students stated that they would like that their province is progressive about the subject and their reproductive rights should be a priority.
The group wants to meet with decision makers
This group of medical students want to meet the provincial MLAs to discuss the reproductive access to particularly ask that Mifegymiso, an MTP kit like set containing Mifepristone and Misoprostol, be added to the government formulary, so that it will be funded and women in the area will be enable to access it regardless of their financial situation and perform the medical abortion procedure.
This drug has been approved by the health ministry and is recommended by the provincial healthcare reviews, as it is not only safe but effective and affordable solution as well. The group representative wrote in the letter that the cost was calculated to be $961 less per patient than the cost of surgical abortion. Moreover, it will increase access to abortion for women living in rural areas of P.E.I.
The letter also invites leaders to schedule meeting on Skype or over the phone, if they aren’t able to meet in person. So far, the group has only heard back from 1 MLA. Meanwhile about twenty-five individuals are helping out with the initiative, plus 13 of them have also agreed to travelling to Charlottetown in the coming month.
The leader of the group commented that being a medical student she came across various women who go through this decision of having an abortion, therefore they need more accessible option as an alternative to surgical procedures.
Meanwhile, Health PEI still debating coverage
The abortion pill Mifegymiso was approved by Health Canada two years ago, however Health PEI stated that it is still in discussion regarding whether to cover the cost for PEI residents.
New Brunswick just announced it will offer Mifegymiso, otherwise known as RU-486, which will be free to women with a valid health card. For the moment, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec are also offering the abortive drug for free.
A representative for health PEI commented that decisions in concern to drug disposal are focused on safeguarding health and care of islanders. The drug hit the Canadian market in January this year.