The only clinic providing surgical abortions outside of hospitals in New Brunswick is officially closing its doors, after limping along for the last two years.
As of midnight Thursday, Clinic 554 in Fredericton will shut down.
“It is devastating that after 30 years of work and advocacy, we are losing a vital healthcare service,” said Sophie Lavoie with the advocacy group Reproductive Justice New Brunswick.
The clinic’s medical director, Dr. Adrian Edgar, said the province’s refusal to fund abortions outside of hospitals, as well as the clinic’s policy of not turning people away for lack of funds, has made it difficult to operate for years.
Ultimately, it led to the closure of his family practice in 2020.
“We’re perpetually losing money,” said Edgar.
“This has never been a service that makes money for anyone. It was filling a gap because in my heart it was the right thing to do.”
Since the closure of his family practice, Edgar has continued to provide reproductive care once a week at Clinic 554. However, now that rent for the building has doubled, it’s become impossible to continue, he said.
Surgical abortions are only available at three hospitals in the province: one in Moncton and two in Bathurst.
Medicare also covers medical abortions, through the prescription of Mifegymiso.
Mary Milliken, a research scientist who recently studied barriers to abortion access in New Brunswick, said that travel and lack of local choice remains the largest concerns.
“I honestly don’t think it’s this government’s place to speak to someone’s situation,” said Milliken.
New Brunswick Green Party Leader David Coon attended Tuesday’s closure announcement, and said that Horizon Health must step in to provide access to surgical abortions in the region. As well, he believes community clinics should be established to meet the long-term needs.
“This leaves a significant gap in the capital region and New Brunswick and Horizon needs to quickly run in to fill that gap in the short term,” he said.
Horizon has previously told Global News that it believes it is providing adequate abortion access in the province.
