British Columbia will soon become the first province in Western Canada to provide publicly funded gender-affirming lower surgeries.

These procedures, along with expanded coverage of chest and breast procedures, will be offered to transgender people across the province starting in 2019.

A total of 14 surgeons will provide these surgeries in Burnaby, Kamloops, Kelowna, Port Moody, Prince George, Vancouver and Victoria.

Gender-affirming lower surgeries will be done within Vancouver Coastal Health beginning in 2019. BC will be the first province in western Canada to provide them. pic.twitter.com/XXFuQrlE67 — VCH Healthcare (@VCHhealthcare) November 16, 2018



"The trans community has advocated over a number of years for improved access to care, including access to complex lower surgeries within B.C.," said Adrian Dix, minister of health.

"For those seeking lower surgery, people were required to travel to Montreal or to the U.S., resulting in additional medical risks associated with travelling long distance after surgery and in receiving follow up care if there were complications."

Previously, people had to travel to Vancouver or Victoria to receive publicly funded gender-affirming breast augmentation or chest construction procedures.

To get lower surgery, people were forced to travel to Montreal or even out of the country.

“We are proud to be the first province in western Canada to provide these surgeries," said Dix, who said this move is about bringing more efficient, cost-effective care closer to home.

"While B.C. funded these surgeries, they weren't being delivered close to home and support systems, and that is what we are changing now.”

Around 100 people were being forced to go outside of B.C. for lower surgeries each year, a number that’s been steadily increasing.

On top of that, more than 200 chest and breast surgeries are expected to take place throughout the province in the coming year.

"Having personally travelled out of province to access similar care, this is a significant step forward in improving the patient journey for British Columbians requiring these procedures,” said Gwen Haworth, a trans education.

“Offering services closer to home reduces additional stress, uncertainties and expenses for individuals and their families. It's reassuring to know that we will have improved access to experienced care providers throughout the entire process, within our home province."

As of Nov. 1, people who don’t identify as male or female now have the choice to display an X in the gender field of their driver’s license, identity card, birth certificate or BC Services Card.