Throughout the past 60 years, Options has provided clinical sexual and reproductive health care to people in BC, with an expansive network of clinics providing birth control, cervical cancer screening, STI testing and treatment, pregnancy testing and options counselling, and general sexual and reproductive health services. We have persevered through so many challenges, and we recently faced the very real prospect of having to close our clinics.
As many of you know, in December, we shared the information that Options was facing widespread clinic closures. Today we are pleased to share the Ministry of Health expressed support for Options and are committed in principle to maintaining all clinics for the coming year, and continue discussions to design a long-term sustainable solution. The Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring sexual and reproductive health services and care continue to be accessible in BC. In partnership with the Ministry of Health, PHSA, and the regional Health Authorities, we will collaboratively engage in a Strategic Review process to evaluate the future role of Options in BC’s health landscape.
This is positive news for not only Options, but also for people who access our services. We are optimistic that these steps will result in sustainable sexual and reproductive health care in BC and will allow Options to continue to provide the high standard of health care you have come to expect from us.
Options wants to thank our dedicated staff, as well as the overwhelming support from patients, volunteers, healthcare professionals, and community members for continuing to be champions for sexual and reproductive health in BC. We are so grateful for the outpouring of support and heartfelt words about our services received over the recent weeks. We know how much our clinics mean to you, and the stories that have been shared with us over the past month have highlighted to us that the services we provide are life changing for some, and life saving for others. We are committed to continuing our work, care, education, and access to information through our clinics, our education services, and our Sex Sense information and resource service.
Thank you for your support and we look forward to working with the Ministry of Health to ensure continuity and accessibility of sexual and reproductive health care in BC.
With gratitude,
The Options for Sexual Health Team