B.C. making prescription contraceptives free this year
CTV
The B.C. government says it will be the first province in Canada to make prescription contraceptives free for all residents.
The B.C. government says it will be the first province in Canada to make prescription contraceptives free for all residents.
The province says its free prescription contraceptive program will begin on April 1.
The new program was announced during the province's 2023 budget overview, which was released Tuesday.
The province says it will spend $119 million over the next three years for the program.
The program will include oral hormone pills, contraceptive injections, copper and hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs), subdermal implants and Plan B.
The province says a person who pays $25 a month for hormonal pills would save up to $10,000 over their lifetime with the new free prescription contraceptive program.
Advocacy group AccessBC says the new funding will also lead to savings for both residents and the province.
