Women’s sexual and reproductive rights: it is this passion that drives me and my everyday work.
We’re starting the year off strong! Over the last few months, we have been making a concerted effort to raise our profile on the national stage, and it’s clear this is helping to establish us as a leading national health care stakeholder in Canada. Last month, we had the pleasure of being invited to meet with senior policy advisors in the prime minister’s office to discuss women’s health and reproductive rights. The meeting was clearly a success, as I had the privilege of being invited by our prime minister to a reception for Emmanuel Macron, President of France in my role as CEO. A lovely surprise, it was an opportunity to remind everyone that the SOGC is one of the few scientific societies to publish bilingual guidelines in the world. Believe me, they are just as appreciated by our colleagues in the Francophonie.
These efforts lead us to dream that women’s health will be at the heart of the next electoral campaign, but unlike our American friends, it will not be about losing our achievements but rather about gaining more commitments for girls, women and the LGBTQ+ community. We will therefore need your collaboration and support to encourage each of your patients to utilize our educational resources, which are updated on our website. We will also start hosting events, such as our first public Contraception Summit, which will take place on Nov. 20, 2024.
Speaking of dreaming, we were also invited to testify in the Senate of Canada last week on the relevance of Bill C-64: An Act Respecting Pharmacare. This bill, which will allow free access to all contraceptive methods for all Canadian women, is in jeopardy given the current federal minority government instability. We will need to act quickly when our elected officials vote, mobilizing girls and women to send letters to each of their MPs and opposition parties. They can start making appointments with them, especially if they feel they might vote against it. Politicians can be blind sometimes, but they are not deaf; we will make noise when the time comes. If you look closely, most testimonies against this bill are backed by organizations that are currently profiting from medication prices; women’s rights are of little importance on their radar.
As our national presence grows, we’ve also been getting a lot of media attention, especially after a study was released last week by the Association of OBGYNs of Quebec (AOGQ) with some eye-opening findings. It found fees for medical procedures performed on women are significantly less than similar procedures for men. The gap is significant: between 33 per cent to 218 per cent. Given that other provinces have reported similar issues, it’s time we start asking questions and addressing this problem at a national level.
Finally, I sincerely wish to apologize following the publication of my September column; some felt hurt by my comments about the minimum number of procedures needed to maintain good practice. I have always had great admiration for our brave colleagues who often work alone in rural areas. I have personally done locum work there, and I know how lonely one can feel when misfortune strikes. My intention was not to belittle our courageous young colleagues settling in rural areas, but rather to position our simulation tools as the best way to stay skilled and ensure that we know what to do, even when we need to act quickly, and it has been a long time since we performed a particular technique. Furthermore, the new version of our app will include short videos for those difficult moments. Thank you, Isabelle B., for bringing this misunderstanding to my attention.
I look forward to seeing you in Quebec at FMC. Let’s enjoy this beautiful city and its autumn colours. Come chat!
Dr. Diane Francoeur
FRCSC, MHCM, ICD.D
Chief Executive Officer