With nearly half of all pregnancies unintended
in Canada, all sectors must work
together to help tackle this public health issue
KIRKLAND, QC , Sept. 26,
2023 /CNW/ - Organon Canada, a subsidiary of Organon
(NYSE: OGN), a global healthcare company with a focus on women's
health, is declaring its support for universal access to
contraception in Canada. In
recognition of World Contraception Day on September 26, the company is joining a growing
number of local organizations advocating for improved and equitable
contraceptive access, education, and support for women in
Canada and around the world.
Nearly 50 per cent of pregnancies are unintended in Canada, representing a significant health
crisis that has rippling effects across education and employment
outcomes through generations.i,ii Universal access
to contraception allows women to choose if and when to have
children and how many children to have, reduces the number of
high-risk or unintended pregnancies, and improves social and
economic outcomes for women.iii
"At Organon Canada, we are united in our mission to create a
healthier world for women; one where women can make the decisions
that are right for them in addressing their unique health needs and
planning for their future," says Michael
Casia, President and Managing Director at Organon
Canada. "When implemented correctly, universal contraception
coverage represents an important step on this journey, and Organon
Canada is proud to be adding its voice to the growing movement
advocating for universal contraception in Canada."
Streamlining access to
contraception in Canada
Findings from a recent global report show that access to modern,
effective and affordable contraception differs from province to
province in Canada. In fact, only
46 per cent of Canadian provinces and territories provide some form
of financial contraception coverage for all or most of their
population.iv The reality of this can be seen in the
recently released Global Contraception Policy Atlas, which
investigates how public authorities perform in access to
contraceptive supplies, family planning counseling, and online
information on contraception in six regions, including Canada.
"No matter where you live, what job you have, or what's in your
bank account, you should have the ability to choose whether, when
and with whom you have children. Access to a wide variety of
contraceptive options is critical in people's ability to make those
choices," says Insiya Mankani, Public Affairs Officer, Action
Canada for Sexual Health & Rights and Project Coordinator for
the Canadian region of the Contraception Policy Atlas.
Unmet need for modern
contraceptive methods
Making the decision to have children is one of the most
important decisions a woman can make, and yet, many do not have
access to the resources to help them make this choice on their
terms. An estimated 162.9 million women have an unmet need for
modern contraceptive methods, one of the many challenges that women
face in managing their reproductive health and the timing and
spacing of pregnancies.v
As the only company of its size dedicated to women's health,
Organon is well positioned to address this complex issue. Organon
has committed to preventing 120 million unplanned pregnancies by
2030 through the Her Plan is Her Power initiative, with one
initiative already helping to prevent 57 million unplanned
pregnancies worldwide. Progress to date on the company's
global commitment can be found here. In Canada, the company recently launched a point
of care program helping marginalized populations gain access
to a long-acting contraception.
In addition to universal access to contraception, Organon Canada
is a firm believer that education, awareness, and resources are key
pillars to help reduce unintended pregnancies. As such, on World
Contraception Day 2023, the company launched new content on birth
control options that can be accessed online at:
https://essencelle.ca/.
About Organon
Organon is a global healthcare company with a focus on improving
the health of women throughout their lives. Organon has a portfolio
of more than 60 medicines and products across a range of
therapeutic areas. Led by the women's health portfolio coupled with
an expanding biosimilars business and stable franchise of
established medicines, Organon's products produce strong cash flows
that will support investments in innovation and future growth
opportunities in women's health. In addition, Organon is pursuing
opportunities to collaborate with biopharmaceutical innovators
looking to commercialize their products by leveraging its scale and
presence in fast growing international markets. Organon has a
global footprint with significant scale and geographic reach,
world-class commercial capabilities, and approximately 10,000
employees with headquarters located in Jersey City, New Jersey.
For more information, connect with us on LinkedIn.
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
i The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.
Unintended pregnancy. Available at:
https://www.pregnancyinfo.ca/your-pregnancy/special-consideration/unintended-pregnancy/.
|
|
ii WHO. High
rates of unintended pregnancies linked to gaps in family planning
services: New WHO study. October 2019. Available online:
https://www.who.int/news/item/25-10-2019-high-rates-of-unintended-pregnancies-linked-to-gaps-in-family-planning-services-new-who-study#:~:text=Unintended%20pregnancies%20can%20further%20lead%20to%20cycles%20of,have%20a%20vital%20role%20in%20preventing%20unintended%20pregnancies.
Accessed September 2023.
|
|
iii Action
Canada. Policy Brief: Canada's Pharmacare Plan Should Provide
Access to All Forms of Contraception. Available at:
https://www.actioncanadashr.org/resources/policy-briefs-submissions/2022-11-14-canadas-pharmacare-plan-should-provide-access-all-forms-contraception.
|
|
iv Global
Contraception Policies Atlas. https://www.srhrpolicyhub.org/.
Accessed September 2023.
|
|
v Haakenstad
A et al. Measuring contraceptive method mix, prevalence, and demand
satisfied by age and marital status in 204 countries and
territories, 1970–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden
of Disease Study 2019. Lancet Glob Health. 2022
|
SOURCE Organon Canada Inc.