An Open Letter to Our Patients, Clients, Supporters, and Friends
It is with a heavy heart that we share some difficult news. After years of insufficient funding and financial challenges, Options for Sexual Health is faced with the high likelihood that we will be forced to close the majority of our clinics in order to continue to meet the high standards of care that Options is known for.
Currently, Options for Sexual Health operates 52 clinics, including 30 directly managed locations, providing essential care to over 14,000 people annually. In many rural and remote areas, we are the only provider of vital sexual and reproductive health services, including birth control, cervical screenings, STI testing and treatment, and more. Our clinics are a crucial part of the healthcare landscape, ensuring that accessible, non-judgmental care is available to all British Columbians.
The possibility of having to close many, if not all, of our clinics comes after more than a decade of operating under significant financial strain. With no substantive increases to our core funding during this time, rising healthcare costs, inflation, and the growing cost of living have outpaced our ability to meet the demands of need for our health care services. Additionally, while nursing wages in BC have risen, Options has not been able to match these increases due to insufficient funding. The Options Board of Directors has sent a letter to the Honourable Premier David Eby requesting bridge funding and a commitment to increase our core funding so that we can continue to offer these essential services in as many communities as possible.
We urgently need your support to ensure that these essential services remain available. Here’s how you can help:
- Contact your MLA and urge them to support the request from our Board for additional funding for Options for Sexual Health. Click here to add your voice!
- Share your story with us. Let us know how the closure of your local clinic would impact you and your community. Click here to share your impact with us.
We are hopeful that with your help, and stories of how Options has impacted you, we can secure the necessary funding to keep our some of our clinics open. In the meantime, we want to reassure our patients that we will continue to provide the high standard of care we are known for. We will also keep you informed about any clinic closures and provide resources for alternative services in your community as soon as more details are available.
Thank you for your continued support during this challenging time. We deeply appreciate you.
With gratitude,
Options for Sexual Health
For any questions, comments, or concerns, please email info@optionsforsexualhealth.org.