NS to cover cost of gender reassignment surgeries

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s health minister says the province will act immediately to begin funding gender reassignment surgery.

Dave Wilson’s announcement came after a meeting today with the Nova Scotia Rainbow Action project about removing barriers to health care services.

After considering policies in other provinces and medical evidence, he said he felt urged to make the changes as quickly as possible.

Wilson said it’s important that Nova Scotia not discriminate when it comes to gender reassignment surgeries.

The province is now in a fiscal position where some spending can happen again, he added.

Approximately 8-12 people request the surgery annually.

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Wilson says the province shouldn’t have trouble absorbing the costs, which he didn’t provide specifics on.

Nova Scotia will be the eighth province to cover gender reassignment surgery.