No one should be denied access to the abortion pill because of their postal code or their income. That’s the message from the Student Medical Society of Saskatchewan, with this province and Manitoba the only two without universal coverage of the drug.

Spokesperson Lara Witt says if you don’t have third-party insurance that opts to cover the cost or if you don’t meet the requirements under the Saskatchewan Drug Plan, the pill costs anywhere from $300 to $450, which is unaffordable for many. Witt explains that surgical abortion is fully covered, and it’s more expensive for the health system and riskier for the patient.

In answer to questions around those seeking the abortion pill and why they weren’t using contraceptives, Witt replies that contraception isn’t fool proof and in a perfect world there would be vast contraceptive access, but that’s not the case. The Student Medical Society believes the province is in violation of the tenet of accessibility in the Canada Health Act which states that abortion must be fully covered by Saskatchewan Health.

The SMS Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee met with the Health Minister at the Legislature today (Thurs) and Witt believes Jim Reiter was receptive. He said it was something he would take into consideration.