The Saskatchewan Party is promising to make advancements in women’s health if re-elected this fall.
Regina Rochdale candidate Laura Ross said they will offer Saskatchewan women a self-sampling kit in the mail to screen for HPV as an alternative to the pap test.
“Being able to do this in the privacy of your own home really makes a big difference,” Ross said.
Saskatchewan women between 25 and 69 currently get a letter from the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency reminding them to book a pap test.
The Sask. Party said Saskatchewan would be the second province, behind B.C, to offer cervix self-screening.
“The number one cause of cervical cancer is HPV,” Sask. Party candidate Sarah Wright said. “A pap test can screen for a variety of things, but the vast majority of the importance of a pap test is in fact to find HPV or anything else that is leading to cervical cancer.”
The party is also looking to help families struggling with infertility.
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The Sask. Party said it would provide a 50 per cent refundable tax credit for the cost of a first fertility treatment.
The credit would help with the cost of fertility treatments and prescription drugs to a maximum of $20,000.
“That would translate into a direct benefit of about $10,000,” Sask. Party leader Scott Moe said. “We want to make it more affordable for women, for couples and for families who may be in need of fertility treatments to start to grow their families right here in our province.”
The Saskatchewan NDP has their own plans for infertility treatments.
“”I know we have costed for some of this, not sure exactly what that would look like but there will be more to come on this,” Meara Conway, Regina Elphinstone-Centre candidate said.
There is only one clinic in Saskatchewan where families can get infertility treatment: Aurora Reproductive Care in Saskatoon.
“Infertility affects 1 in 6 individuals, and is a significant emotional and financial burden to those who dream of having a family and cannot,” Dr. Adrian Gamelin with Aurora Reproductive care said in a statement.
“While many people facing infertility do not require advanced treatment such as IVF, any financial assistance to support those who do is welcome.”
The election is set for Oct. 28.