New Brunswick may soon be penalized by its federal counterparts over “continued barriers” to abortion access.
The province only covers abortions if they are performed at one of three hospitals.
Anyone who uses Clinic 554, the province’s only private abortion clinic in Fredericton, has to pay out of pocket.
In a report to the House of Commons this week, health minister Patty Hajdu singled out New Brunswick for its “persistent barriers” to access for abortion services.
The report said Hajdu recently wrote to the province to say any patient charges for surgical abortions would be considered extra-billing and user charges, and would result in “penalties.
But in a statement, the province’s health department maintained its meeting the Canada Health Act requirements.
“We are working with the federal government to address their concerns,” wrote Bruce Macfarlane, a spokesperson for the department.
“We want to ensure the federal minister of health has a full and accurate understanding of the services provided in New Brunswick.”
