Clinic 554 in Fredericton. (Image: Facebook)
The only private abortion clinic in New Brunswick is closing its doors.
Through social media on Thursday, Dr. Adrian Edgar says operating Clinic 554 in Fredericton – formerly the Morgantaler Clinic – is no longer financially feasible.
Dr. Edgar places the blame squarely on the provincial government.
“Unlike every other clinic that offers abortions in Canada, and unlike every other healthcare reason a patient comes to see me, the province of New Brunswick unilaterally refuses to allow Medicare to cover the cost of a patient who sees me for an abortion procedure at the Clinic.”
Dr. Edgar says he has tried to meet with the premier, the health minister and the province’s two health authorities without any success.
Meantime, the province of New Brunswick’s position on abortions remains unchanged from that of the previous government according to the Department of Health.
In a statement to our newsroom, spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane says abortions are available in publicly-funded hospitals and the Department of Health, in accordance with the Canada Health Act, does not fund private healthcare services.
Only three public hospitals in New Brunswick provide abortions – Moncton’s two hospitals and the one in Bathurst.
