Women and gender-diverse people in B.C. are receiving improved access to care through expanded services and broader medication coverage.

“As we mark Women’s Health Research Month and International Women’s Day this March, we reaffirm that women and gender‑diverse people deserve equitable, high‑quality care,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “For too long, women’s health needs have been under-represented in health‑care systems. In B.C., initiatives such as universal contraception, cervix self‑screening and free prescription menopausal hormone therapy are improving access to care and supporting better health outcomes for women and gender‑diverse people across our province.”

To build on current efforts to expand and strengthen access to care, the Province has started consultation with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives regarding a proposed expanded scope of practice for midwives. If approved, these changes will strengthen the continuum of care for pregnant individuals throughout pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period, and provide increased support from midwives during this time.

“Gender equity means recognizing and addressing the unique health needs women and gender-diverse people face throughout their lives,” said Jennifer Blatherwick, parliamentary secretary for gender equity. “Expanding access to reproductive care, contraception and self-screening removes real barriers and supports greater autonomy, security and participation in communities across British Columbia.”

Cervix self-screening participation grows

B.C. is the first province in Canada to offer a self-screening option for cervical cancer, helping more people access screening in a way that is convenient and private. The HPV self-screening kit is quick, safe, highly accurate and can be done when and where people feel most comfortable.

Since cervix self-screening launched in January 2024, uptake has been strong. From February 2024 until November 2025:

• 240,000 cervix self-screening kits were mailed to eligible patients
• 34% of cervix self-screening kit requests were from people who had never screened before
• Self-collection kits have been made available at 1,621 clinics in B.C.
• 57% of cervix screens in October 2025 had HPV testing as their primary screening test