Saskatchewan becomes latest province to add abortion pill to provincial drug plan

Beginning September 5, Mifegymiso will be covered by the Saskatchewan Prescription Drug Plan.

Other provinces that cover the drug are Alberta, British Colombia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec.

Mifegymiso is the first oral medication approved by Health Canada that terminates a pregnancy, and it is effective up to 49 days into the pregnancy.

“The product will be available to anyone, but in terms of the provincial formulary coverage, it will be based on the existing coverage you would have under our various drug plan programs. For most people, it’s an income-tested program,” Mark Wyatt, assistant deputy minister of health, said Thursday.

“For low income residents we do have a safety net program that is available that also will cover either all or most of the cost of any drug,” Wyatt added.

The special support program kicks in when drug costs reach 3.4 per cent of family income. For someone with high income, they would be paying the full price, which the ministry says is around $360.

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A course is required for physicians to prescribe the drug. Currently, 57 doctors across the province are signed up for the course, which takes approximately 4 or 5 hours to complete.

According to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan, there are just under 2,400 active licenses in the province.