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WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is going to provide universal access to the abortion pill Mifegymiso, a move that will leave Saskatchewan as the lone province where the cost of the drug is not fully covered by the public.

Rochelle Squires, minister responsible for the status of women, said making the drug easier to access will benefit women who want to stay in their home communities.

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“Our analysis shows that it is more cost-effective for women to stay in their own community to access reproductive health services, where possible,” Squires told The Canadian Press on Saturday.

“We also know that for many women, it is preferable to be able to stay in their community instead of coming into a place like Brandon or Winnipeg.”

Currently, Mifegymiso is only available for free at clinics in Winnipeg and Brandon that offer surgical abortions.

Otherwise, women have had to pay upwards of $300 for the two-pill treatment unless they are covered by private insurance or low-income pharmacare.