N.S. minister looks to improve abortion access, calling province ‘out of step’
Nova Scotia’s health minister says abortion access in the province is “out of step” with current practices, and has asked health officials to find ways to improve it.
Randy Delorey said Wednesday that women and advocates have raised important issues about access.
“This is the first time I’m aware this issue has been brought to this government’s attention,” he said in a statement. “We understand practices have evolved over time and Nova Scotia is out of step with other provinces.”
Delorey said he has asked staff at the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the Health Department to look into concerns and report back on how to improve access. The health minister’s statement came after
The Canadian Press reported this week on barriers to abortion access in Nova Scotia, which is the only province that requires a referral for an abortion. As well, there are long wait times for the time-sensitive procedure and no provincial coverage for medical abortions using pills. Women are also being forced to wait to obtain abortions because the hospital-based clinic that performs most procedures in the province doesn’t have an ultrasound machine. Several women interviewed described waiting four to eight weeks to obtain an abortion.
NDP legislator Lenore Zann, the party’s status of women spokesperson, said current wait times are horrendous, and called the need to obtain a referral “very backwards.”
“Nova Scotia is really behind when it comes to women’s reproductive rights,” she said. “We are slowly turning a corner but this is 2017 and it’s time to get on the bandwagon and change.”