‘Vacuum of services’: B.C. sexual health clinics at risk of closure – CTV

Dec. 31, 2024

One of Canada’s largest non-profit sexual health organizations is at risk of closing dozens of its clinics due to funding constraints.

Options for Sexual Health operates 52 clinics across B.C. Thirty are managed by the nonprofit, while the rest operate in partnership with other organizations.

On top of its educational offerings, the clinics provide non-judgmental care to around 14,000 people annually in the form of sexual and reproductive health services such as birth control, cervical screenings, STI testing and treatment.

Tiffany Melius, the executive director of Options for Sexual Health says after more than a decade of insufficient funding, there’s an imminent possibility it will have to shutter the majority of its clinics.

“If we don’t receive any funding, we’re going to have to close 25 of our directly managed clinics,” she said. Melius added the nonprofit will also have to cut services in the five clinics it can keep open.

“It’s a really significant closure plan,” she said.

Read more: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/vacuum-of-services-b-c-sexual-health-clinics-at-risk-of-closure-1.7160707