Rose Gervais faced a challenging situation in 2023 when she discovered her third child, at about 12 weeks in the womb, had no brain development and the pregnancy was no longer viable. Living in Gaspé, Quebec, she needed to travel for an abortion as she had surpassed the 12-week mark and local options were limited. Opting for a surgical procedure in Quebec City, closer to home, became a lengthy ordeal due to delays, prompting her and her partner to travel to Montreal for the necessary abortion.
The delays in accessing abortion services in Quebec City beyond the first trimester highlight persistent challenges in the province’s healthcare system. Dr. Mathieu Bélanger, working at the Saint-François d’Assise Hospital, emphasized the need for improved access and structural support to address the service gaps. Patients often face long wait times and difficulty in securing timely appointments for surgical abortions, leading them to seek care in Montreal and beyond.
Dr. Geneviève Bois, a family doctor in Montreal, echoed concerns about access disparities, emphasizing the need for a more streamlined system to ensure prompt and equitable abortion services across regions in Quebec. Despite the province’s pro-choice stance, issues such as uneven access to medical and surgical abortions persist, necessitating better standards and resource allocation in the healthcare system.
Sylvie Pedneault, from SOS Grossesse in Quebec City, emphasized the importance of expanding service points for surgical abortions in the capital to accommodate the high demand from surrounding areas. Advocates stress the need for increased investments in medical abortions to complement surgical options, ensuring comprehensive and accessible reproductive healthcare for all Quebecers. The Quebec government has acknowledged the importance of addressing these access issues and committed to ongoing efforts to enhance abortion services in the province.
