Winnipeg, Manitoba – In a bid to prioritize the healthcare needs of older women, Manitoba’s New Democratic Party (NDP) has vowed to resurrect a specialized medical center catering to their unique medical requirements. NDP Leader Wab Kinew unveiled this commitment on Thursday, affirming his party’s commitment to rebuild the mature women’s center at Victoria Hospital.
The mature women’s center, which formerly offered menopause transition and gynecological treatment exclusively for older women, ceased its operations in 2017 as part of a broader restructuring of Manitoba’s healthcare system.
“This is an initiative that was discontinued by the [Progressive] Conservatives. We intend to reinstate it,” Kinew declared outside the south Winnipeg hospital.
The discontinuation of the center had dire consequences, resulting in extended wait times for older women seeking gynecological treatment, particularly for complications arising after hysterectomies.
Often, women struggled to find physicians well-versed in addressing their specific medical needs, Kinew highlighted.
“Once women surpass their child-rearing years, it often seems as though their healthcare needs are marginalized,” remarked Dr. Sabrina Lee, a gynecology resident who lent her support to the revival of the mature women’s center.
Even today, we have experts in the field of menopause care who are ready to provide exceptional healthcare services at a moment’s notice.”
According to NDP estimates, resurrecting the mature women’s center will require an initial capital investment of $5 million, with annual operational costs of $2 million.
In 2021, Health Minister Audrey Gordon of the Progressive Conservative government expressed willingness to consider reinstating the mature women’s center.
Responding to NDP’s announcement, PC Leader Heather Stefanson stated at a news conference on Thursday that she did not recollect the promise and highlighted the expansion of the women’s health center at the Health Sciences Centre in central Winnipeg in 2019.
Furthermore, Kinew pledged to expand pharmacare coverage to include a broader range of menopause transition medications, a move estimated to cost $3 million annually.
The NDP’s commitment to restoring the mature women’s center and improving menopause care underscores their dedication to addressing the healthcare disparities faced by older women in Manitoba.
This pledge aims to ensure that the unique healthcare needs of mature women are met, offering them specialized care and support as they navigate the challenges of menopause and gynecological health.
