OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 5, 2026 /CNW/ -- Women in Canada have been calling on the federal government to do more to close significant and growing gaps in access to basic health care for women, but their calls appear to be falling on deaf ears.
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) is disappointed that Budget 2026 contains few targeted investments in women's health.
The SOGC welcomes a funding commitment of $70 million over two years to extend the Menstrual Equity Fund pilot project as well as renewed funding for the National Women's Health Research Initiative to help address longstanding gaps in women's health research. We also are pleased to see additional support for organizations working to advance equality for women and combatting gender-based violence through the Women's Program.
However, these investments fall far short of what is needed to address the significant needs of women navigating health challenges across the country.
The SOGC called on the federal government to make Budget 2026 Canada's Women's Health Budget. Women across Canada are facing years-long wait times for diagnosis and treatment for painful conditions like endometriosis and fibroids. They are struggling to access primary care. Access to fertility treatment and menopause care too often depends on where a woman lives and what she can afford. Expectant mothers are faced with the terrifying prospect of giving birth in transit due to staffing shortages disrupting maternity services across the country. Some women are in such dire need of care they are paying out-of-pocket to travel to other countries or paying for private health services here in Canada. It's unacceptable.
These gaps have consequences for Canada's economy. When women cannot get timely treatment, they may reduce their working hours, take extended leave or leave the workforce altogether. Delayed care can also lead to more complex treatment and greater pressure on already strained health services.
Budget 2026 was an opportunity to support Canadian women who want to help grow Canada's economy through their strong participation in the workforce. Budget 2026 even acknowledges this, noting 85 per cent of women aged 25 to 54 are participating in the labour force – seven percentage points higher than in the United States.
That's why the SOGC believes Budget 2026 represents a missed opportunity to help women in Canada to improve their health outcomes and, in turn, contribute to making the economy more resilient.
The SOGC recognizes the fiscal pressures facing Canada. But those pressures make effective investment in women's health even more necessary. Leaving conditions untreated carries costs for patients, families and the economy that do not disappear simply because they are absent from a budget.
The SOGC stands ready to work with governments to give women's health the attention and investment it deserves.
"The SOGC was hoping to see concrete spending commitments in women's health that would signal an acknowledgement of what we hear from our patients every day: that women's health needs to be a higher priority. Unfortunately, we didn't see that in Budget 2026. We remain hopeful the federal government will recognize the benefits of investing in women's health. McKinsey estimates that closing the women's health gap could add $37 billion annually to Canada's economy by 2040. Helping women stay healthy and remain in the workforce is an investment in Canada's prosperity." – Dr. Nicholas Leyland, President, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.
SOURCE The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
Media Inquiries:Teresa Wright, Communications and Public Affairs Specialist, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, [email protected]
Share this article