FREDERICTON – The premier of New Brunswick says it will take some before hospitals in the province are ready to perform more abortions.
Brian Gallant says changes to remove barriers to abortion have been in effect for a week but the two provincial health authorities need more time provide added service.
Until this year, medicare would only pay for abortions done by specialists in hospital, and only after two doctors deemed the procedure as medically necessary.
READ MORE: Abortion access varies widely across Canada
Right now, only hospitals in Moncton and Bathurst provide abortions, and both are part of the francophone health authority known as Vitalite.
Gallant says both hospitals are bilingual and New Brunswickers are used to a system where some procedures are only available at certain hospitals.
The Horizon Health Network says it is developing plans to provide access to abortions, and hopes to begin offering the service in April.
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