Nova Scotia physicians and sexual health experts are urging the provincial government to fund birth control and increase access to PrEP, an HIV-prevention drug. They highlighted the high cost of PrEP ($200-$250/month) and the restrictiveness of the province's pharmacare plan, which limits access to preferred birth control options. They also called for Nova Scotia to join the federal pharmacare program, which helps fund birth control.
Doctors, health experts call on N.S. to cover birth control and HIV-prevention drug
HealthBirth controlHIV preventionHiv preventionBirth Control
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Nova Scotia physicians and sexual health experts are urging the provincial government to fund birth control and increase access to PrEP, an HIV-prevention drug. They highlighted the high cost of PrEP ($200-$250/month) and the restrictiveness of the province's pharmacare plan, which limits access to preferred birth control options. They also called for Nova Scotia to join the federal pharmacare program, which helps fund birth control.
- 1 Today (June 10, 2025): Doctors and health experts made comments at a legislature committee hearing in Halifax.
- 2 Ongoing: Only P.E.I., Manitoba, British Columbia, and Yukon have signed up to the federal pharmacare program.
- If adopted, increased access to birth control and PrEP, improved sexual health outcomes, reduced financial burden for patients.
- If not, continued access barriers and health disparities.
What: Nova Scotia physicians and sexual health experts are calling on the provincial government to fund birth control and increase access to PrEP (HIV-prevention drug).
When: Today (Tuesday, June 10, 2025) at a legislature committee hearing.
Where: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Why: PrEP is too expensive for many who need it, and the province's pharmacare plan is too restrictive for birth control, leading to affordability and access issues for essential sexual health medications.
How: Doctors and experts made comments at a legislature committee hearing. They are urging the provincial government to fund these medications and to sign on to the federal pharmacare program.