No need for local abortion services, says province

The CEO of Health PEI, Dr. Richard Wedge, has offered a response to a proposal to set up an outpatient facility to perform abortions on the Island.

Amherst gynecologist Robyn MacQuarrie has offered to come to the Island periodically to perform abortions in an outpatient facility. 

Currently, P.E.I. is the only province that does not offer abortion services. Women have to travel off-Island for the procedure. 

MacQuarrie has worked with a group at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to create a business plan for a clinic.

She said two half-day clinics a month would likely meet the needs of P.E.I. women.

MacQuarrie said the province would actually save money by keeping the services local.

"What we're trying to do is get some answers as to why this cost-effective plan hasn't moved forward. Why it's being stuck in the provincial medical advisory committee," said MacQuarrie.

In a statement sent to CBC News Wedge said Health PEI receives numerous proposals for a variety of services each year. 

“There are currently a number of services covered under Medicare that Islanders can travel to neighbouring provinces to receive, including abortion,” he said. 

“Government has indicated that there is no desire to broaden the current abortion services; therefore, it would not make sense for Health PEI to put resources into a proposal that is not in line with government policy.”

Premier Robert Ghiz also commented on the issue late Monday. "From our perspective we pay for the service. There's a lot of services on Prince Edward Island we do not offer. We believe it's better to pay for them in another province and this happens to be one of the services ... and we believe the status quo is working."