Summary

• More people in B.C. have greater access to equitable care as the Province continues to invest in services such as IVF and the Complex Menopause Clinic at BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre
• The Province is continuing to expand medication coverage in B.C., offering greater access to treatment for menopausal symptoms, contraception and cervix self-screening kits
• The Province is entering consultation with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives regarding scope-of-practice changes for midwives

__________

Women and gender-diverse people in B.C. are receiving improved access to care through expanded services and broader medication coverage.

“As we mark Women’s Health Research Month and International Women’s Day this March, we reaffirm that women and gender‑diverse people deserve equitable, high‑quality care,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “For too long, women’s health needs have been under-represented in health‑care systems. In B.C., initiatives such as universal contraception, cervix self‑screening and free prescription menopausal hormone therapy are improving access to care and supporting better health outcomes for women and gender‑diverse people across our province.”

To build on current efforts to expand and strengthen access to care, the Province has started consultation with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives regarding a proposed expanded scope of practice for midwives. If approved, these changes will strengthen the continuum of care for pregnant individuals throughout pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period, and provide increased support from midwives during this time.

“Gender equity means recognizing and addressing the unique health needs women and gender-diverse people face throughout their lives,” said Jennifer Blatherwick, parliamentary secretary for gender equity. “Expanding access to reproductive care, contraception and self-screening removes real barriers and supports greater autonomy, security and participation in communities across British Columbia.”

Cervix self-screening participation grows

B.C. is the first province in Canada to offer a self-screening option for cervical cancer, helping more people access screening in a way that is convenient and private. The HPV self-screening kit is quick, safe, highly accurate and can be done when and where people feel most comfortable.

Since cervix self-screening launched in January 2024, uptake has been strong. From February 2024 until November 2025:

• 240,000 cervix self-screening kits were mailed to eligible patients
• 34% of cervix self-screening kit requests were from people who had never screened before
• Self-collection kits have been made available at 1,621 clinics in B.C.
• 57% of cervix screens in October 2025 had HPV testing as their primary screening test

Helping more people take charge of their reproductive health

B.C. is also the first jurisdiction in Canada to provide free prescription birth control. Since it was introduced on April 1, 2023, approximately 394,000 people in British Columbia have benefited, helping them save hundreds of dollars on contraceptives every year. In June 2023, the Province also expanded pharmacist’s scope of practice so they can prescribe contraception. This change has helped to reduce barriers and enhance access to timely reproductive care.

In July 2025, the Province launched its first publicly funded in-vitro fertilization (IVF) program. Eligible B.C. residents have access to one-time funding for as much as $19,000 toward the cost of a single standard IVF cycle, including treatment and medication. More than 1,600 individuals and couples have been approved for funding under the IVF program, with more applications still in process.

Expanded access to menopause care

As of March 1, 2026, hundreds of thousands of people in B.C. have access to menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) at no cost under the BC PharmaCare National Pharmacare Plan. While BC PharmaCare has long covered menopausal hormone therapy, people often had to meet income-based deductibles before receiving full coverage. By expanding coverage for MHT, the Province is not only removing a financial barrier but also affirming the importance of accessible, evidence‑based menopause care.

And MHT coverage is only one part of the solution. To better support people navigating more complex menopause experiences, the Province opened the Complex Menopause Clinic that is the first of its kind in Western Canada at BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre in December 2024. This clinic has expanded access to specialized menopause care in B.C. and has already helped hundreds of patients. It also integrates research directly into patient care. In partnership with the Women’s Health Research Institute and University of British Columbia (UBC), it uses real-time evidence to inform more personalized, responsive treatment and ensures that lived experience continues to shape the science that guides care.

All of the actions are grounded in the Province’s commitment to uphold and support reproductive autonomy and strengthening B.C.’s universal health-care system. Together, these measures build on ongoing investments to ensure women and gender‑diverse people have access to compassionate, equitable and comprehensive care at every stage of life.

Quotes:

Dr. Gina Ogilvie, professor, UBC school of population and public health, and associate director, Women’s Health Research Institute –

“Primary HPV testing for cervix screening will be a gamechanger in cervical cancer prevention, and with self-screening, we’re putting control in the hands of women across B.C. Research was a huge factor in transforming cervical cancer screening guidelines, and now, all Canadian provinces and territories have or are in the process of including HPV testing as their primary screening method. As a province, we’re empowering women to take charge of their health.”

Dr. Laura Schummers, assistant professor, UBC faculty of pharmaceutical sciences, and director, epidemiology for the contraception and abortion team –

“Universal contraception coverage in B.C. led to a 49% increase in prescriptions for the most effective contraception, like IUDs, decreased the proportion of contraception paid out of pocket by patients from a staggering 39% to 5%, and decreased gynecological surgeries like hysterectomy, which may reduce B.C.’s surgical wait times. B.C.’s first-in-Canada policy providing universal contraception coverage, the result of policymaker-researcher partnership, alleviated critical cost-related barriers to contraception, with broad impacts on reproductive population health and gender equity.”

Dr. Lori Brotto, professor, UBC department of obstetrics and gynecology –

“The expansion of the BC National Pharmacare Plan to cover menopause treatment has been informed by significant research and advocacy for women’s health – paving the way for policy decisions to improve health care at both provincial and national levels. The Complex Menopause Clinic at BC Women’s Hospital closely collaborates with the Women's Health Research Institute and the University of British Columbia, who have helped embed research and evaluation into everyday clinical practice, ensuring that patient experiences continue to inform and improve menopause care now and into the future.”

Quick Facts:

• In 2026, the Province formally proclaimed March as Women’s Health Research Month.
• According to the B.C. Women’s Health Research Institute, expanding access to menopause care not only improves health outcomes, but it also addresses a major economic burden by reducing time away from work and supporting long-term participation in the economy.
• The number of diagnosed cervical cancer cases in B.C. has fallen by 61.32% since 1955, and the mortality rate of cervical cancer has decreased by more than 77%.
• In July 2024, the Forensic Nursing Unit opened at Lions Gate Hospital, offering trauma-informed care for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking, and available to anyone 13 or older, regardless of gender.

Learn More:

• For information about B.C.’s National Pharmacare Plan: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026HLTH0018-000197
• For information about free contraceptives in B.C.: https://gov.bc.ca/contraceptives
• For information about B.C.’s Cervix Screening Program: https://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/cervix/get-screened
• For information on B.C.’s Complex Menopause Clinic: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025HLTH0066-000644