Manitoba will begin providing free prescription birth control for all residents with a valid prescription as of October 1, 2024. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced that the provincial pharmacare program will cover about 60 birth control methods, including pills, intrauterine devices, and hormone injections. The initiative aims to remove cost barriers and promote reproductive health, which Asagwara described as a matter of "reproductive justice."
The program is expected to save individuals thousands of dollars over their lifetime. However, emergency contraceptives, like the morning-after pill, are not included, though officials are exploring ways to improve access. The initiative will cost the province an estimated $11 million annually. Critics note the program may not fully reach vulnerable populations, such as homeless individuals or low-income workers. Despite this, the move has been praised by women’s health advocates as a significant step toward gender equality and reproductive autonomy.
