Thursday, May 25, 2006
NAF Communications Department
202-667-5881
press@prochoice.org
Victoria, BC/Washington, DC - Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, issued a statement today in response to developments regarding access to publicly funded abortion care in New Brunswick. The Honourable Brad Green, QC, the Minister of Health for New Brunswick, announced during the taping of the CBC News at 6 political panel that he has found gynecologists at two hospitals willing to provide abortions under Medicare.
"We are pleased that the Health Ministry is working to prevent women from having to leave the province to obtain publicly funded abortion care. It is very good news that two hospitals in New Brunswick may be able to provide publicly funded abortion services for women, but the province can do more to improve access and alleviate the burdens imposed on women by the current funding policy. While we do not know the locations of these hospitals yet, it is important that abortion services be available in Saint John, Moncton, and Fredericton.
"Extremely qualified providers of abortion care are readily available in New Brunswick. The Morgentaler Clinic, using family physicians, has been providing women with abortion services without government funding for over a decade. Family physicians could provide high quality abortion services in New Brunswick hospitals as they do in other hospitals and clinics across Canada. Funding services at the Morgentaler Clinic as well as allowing family physicians to provide services in New Brunswick hospitals would increase women's access to necessary reproductive health care.
"We welcome the opportunity to work with the Minister of Health and other government officials to improve women's access to publicly funded abortion care in New Brunswick."
# # #
The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers in Canada and the United States. Our mission is to ensure safe, legal, and accessible abortion care to promote health and justice for women. Our members include health care professionals at clinics, doctors' offices, and hospitals, who together care for more than half the women in both countries who choose abortion each year. For more information, visit our website at www.prochoice.org
|
