British Columbia is the first province in Canada to provide free contraceptives to its residents. The aim is to improve access to contraception and reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies, writes Times of Malta.
Launched on 1 January 2022, the initiative covers a range of contraceptive methods, including oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and hormone injections. The program is available to all British Columbia residents who have a valid health card.
The provincial health minister, Adrian Dix, said the government’s goal is to make contraceptives more accessible and affordable for all residents, regardless of income. “We know that people can better plan their lives, their families and their futures when they have access to reliable contraception,” he said.
According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, unplanned pregnancies are a significant “public health problem” in Canada, with an estimated 61,000 unplanned pregnancies occurring each year. The cost of providing free contraceptives is expected to be offset by the savings resulting from reductions in the number of unintended pregnancies and associated health care costs.
Like so many others, BC authorities are turning a blind eye to all the adverse side effects of hormonal contraception to women’s health and see these forms of birth control as a “good way” of preventing unwanted pregnancies. While some hormonal drugs can play a role in women’s health, they are generally notorious because of all the side effects they cause, including risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular issues, bone loss, energy and libido decrease, depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. In contrast, natural family planning methods or fertility awareness methods are a safe way for women to track their cycles in order to avoid pregnancy without taking any synthetic hormones that are detrimental to their health. But since these methods do not generate any profit for pharmaceutical companies, they are disregarded as “unreliable” and “ineffective”, even though studies and practice have proved otherwise.