Salt Spring Island’s Options for Sexual Health (Options) Clinic and all others in B.C. will be able to remain open for another year, following a B.C. government promise to cover a funding shortfall.
In December, the Options non-profit organization put out a call for public support in the form of letters to MLAs and impact statements, noting that many of the province’s 52 OPT clinics faced closure unless more funds were forthcoming.
Options said the government portion of its funding had remained the same for some 10 years while compensation for nurses had risen significantly. Options estimated about $1.5 million was needed.
Last week Options announced that the Ministry of Health had expressed support for the clinics and was committed in principle to ensuring all of them remained open for the coming year. In the meantime, they added, the ministry, Public Health Services Association, regional health authorities and Options will work together in a strategic review process to evaluate the future role of Options in B.C.’s health landscape.
“This is positive news not only for Options, but also for people who access our services,” the provincial Options group stated on its website. “We are optimistic that these steps will result in sustainable sexual and reproductive health care in B.C. and will allow Options to continue to provide the high standard of health care you have come to expect from us.”
Options executive director Tiffany Melius told the Driftwood health ministry personnel have emphasized that they understand the value of Options as a non-governmental entity.
“I think they know that we offer something different than what the mainstream primary care system does, but what that will look like — how widespread that is, what funding that will attract — that’s what we don’t know and what will be determined through the strategic review.”
Melius said the organization received a “massive response” to their call for public support.
“We had more than 2,000 letters sent to MLAs’ offices and over 250 people contributed to our impact stories page,” she said.
An online petition organized just to support Salt Spring’s clinic gathered more than 800 signatures.
Options for Sexual Health is a registered charity. Melius said people can donate directly to specific clinic programs or to general operating funds, with charitable tax receipts issued.