Newfoundland government urged to offer universal coverage of abortion pill
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Newfoundland and Labrador is being pressured to provide universal coverage for the abortion pill amid complaints the province is one of the worst when it comes to access to abortion.
It is the only province in Canada that does not offer some coverage of Mifegymiso, a two-drug combination that induces an abortion up to nine weeks into a pregnancy.
Maggie O’Dea, a medical student at Memorial University in St. John’s, said students are meeting with provincial legislators this week and sitting down with the health minister, John Haggie, on Wednesday.
“Every other province has put in place some sort of coverage,” O’Dea said in an interview Monday. “Mifegymiso is an incredible opportunity to break down barriers and inequities to accessing abortion care in this province.”