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Message from the President – September 2025

27 Aug, 2025

As we move into September, and hopefully for our members, after taking time for rest, family and recharging, the SOGC will continue to move forward with priorities for the coming year. As always, advocacy will be front and centre.

The SOGC has submitted recommendations to the federal government as part of the 2025 pre-budget consultation process. Our submission calls for urgent investments in women’s health to be included in the upcoming federal budget, particularly in areas where Canada continues to face preventable gaps, such as pregnancy loss, stillbirth prevention and equitable access to reproductive health care. Key recommendations include:

  1. Invest $20 million in strengthening data collection and reporting by creating a National Women’s Health Database;
  2. Invest $412 million to launch a national IVF program and support equitable access to fertility care;
  3. Invest $20 million in postpartum maternal health research to improve care and outcomes for Canadian women;
  4. Make the Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Fund permanent with annual funding of $40 million directed to evidence-based organizations; and,
  5. Provide $100 million of dedicated funding over three years to reduce surgical wait times in obstetrical and gynaecological procedures.

All of these recommendations were part of the current Liberal government’s election platform. The SOGC, as a national voice for women’s health, has been advocating for the federal government to honour these election pledges to improve the lives of women. To make sound decisions regarding policy and address areas affecting women — such as systemic barriers that disproportionately affect equity-deserving populations, including newcomers and racialized women — we need better nationwide Canadian data. We also know that women being unable to access health care due to long wait times for conditions such as endometriosis, menopause and long wait lists for gynaecological surgery, prevent women from working and living healthy, productive lives-  this has a considerable impact on women, families, society and the economy. The SOGC will work with the federal government to offer expertise and assistance as needed.

Planning is also underway to launch an advocacy campaign with provinces and territories on the Early Pregnancy Loss (EPL) Clinical Guideline that was published in May of this year. This guideline outlines the care for women experiencing early pregnancy loss, including recommending the establishment of multidisciplinary Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinics (EPACs) across the country. These clinics improve patient experience by expediting evaluation of early pregnancy bleeding and providing physical and emotional care specific to EPL, reducing visits to the emergency department and surgical wait times. We will be meeting with provincial and territorial governments to highlight the need for EPACs and other measures to improve access to health care for women.

Other areas of advocacy by the SOGC for the upcoming month include social media messaging to raise awareness of World Contraception Day on Sept. 26, a news release to highlight the urgent need to protect sexual and reproductive health and rights on International Safe Abortion Day Sept. 28 and awareness messaging for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30. As Canadians, we need to continue to advocate for reproductive health rights and the freedoms we have.

I look forward to continuing as SOGC president for another year and connecting with members. Please take time to review the programs for the FMC in Quebec City, Sept.11-12, and the Ontario CME in Toronto, Nov. 20-22.  I welcome your feedback, thoughts and suggestions. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at President@sogc.com.

Dr. Lynn Murphy-Kaulbeck  
SOGC President