Canada has set a new standard in healthcare by offering free contraception to women, a move that’s causing ripples across the globe, especially in Australia. In a landmark announcement, the Canadian government revealed plans to cover the entire cost of various contraceptive methods, including pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and hormonal implants. This step is part of a broader healthcare reform aimed at eliminating economic barriers to birth control access for over nine million Canadian women. With this move, Canada joins the ranks of countries like the UK, Ireland, and France in providing free prescription birth control.
The decision, as highlighted by Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, is designed not only for family planning but also as a crucial aspect of medical treatment, emphasizing the financial hurdles many women face in accessing contraceptives.
| CONTRACEPTION | WITH HEALTH CARE CARD AND MEDICARE CARD | WITH MEDICARE CARD ONLY | CONSULTATION AND VISIT COST | HOW LONG DOES IT LAST? |
| Emergency contraceptive pill (‘morning after’ pill) | N/A | $0 to $50 | N/A | single use after sexual intercourse |
| Oral contraceptive pill | Around $6.40 (only if listed in PBS) | $10 to $35 | $0 to $115 per consultation | 3 months |
| Hormonal IUD (Mirena)* | Around $6.40 | Around $39.50 | $0 to $200 per consultation (at least 2 required) | 5 years |
| Copper IUD (also an emergency contraception)* | N/A | $70 to $120 | $0 to $300 per consultation (at least 2 required) | 10 years |
| Contraceptive implant/rod (Implanon) | Around $6.40 | Around $37 | $0 to around $115 per consultation (at least 2 required) | 3 years |
| Contraceptive injection (Depo-Provera) | Around $6.40 | $15 | $0 to around $115 per consultation (at least 2 required) | 3 months |
| Vaginal ring | N/A | Around $30 | $0 to around $115 per consultation (at least 2 required) | 3 weeks |
| Diaphragm | N/A | $70 to $90 | $0 to around $115 per consultation (at least 2 required) | 2 years |
Cost of contraception in Australia – Women’s Health Matters (womenshealthmatters.org.au)
Meanwhile, in Australia, the scenario is quite different. Despite having a healthcare system similar to Canada’s, Australian women still bear the cost of contraceptives and related medical procedures. Reproductive experts and sexual health advocates in Australia are now urging the government to follow Canada’s lead.
The cost of contraception in Australia varies, with a three-month supply of pills ranging between $10 and $30, and a copper IUD could cost up to $550, including the insertion fee. Comparatively, in places like the UK and France, such contraceptives are freely available. Australia’s current rate of long-acting reversible contraception uptake is significantly lower than in other developed countries, a situation attributed to the high costs involved.
Though there are subsidies to alleviate some of these costs, experts argue they are insufficient to make a real difference. New South Wales, Victoria, and the ACT have recently introduced schemes to improve accessibility, but there’s a consensus that more comprehensive action is needed to match global standards.
