Quebec (gestational age and medical) abortions

In 2019 there were 538 medical abortions in Quebec. We also now have some gestational ages for Quebec abortions. 

CIHI doesn't report medical abortions, or gestational age abortions for Quebec.

Here is the complete list of Quebec abortion facilities.

Below is a breakdown of the types of abortions. My last Quebec stats.

Translation of codes below.

Gestational ages of Quebec abortions compared to the rest of Canada's (according to CIHI):

Information on medical abortions in Quebec. 538 in 2019

(English translation of abortion codes)

06137 - Gynecology / Uterus and cervix / Manipulation / Abortion by dilation and extraction from 20 weeks of pregnancy, including cervical expansion and laminar rod insertion (PG-28)

06451 - Gynecology / Tubes / Suture / Sterilization, any method, any route of approach, unilateral or bilateral, postpartum or elective, with or without curettage / with therapeutic abortion

06906 - Gynecology / Uterus and cervix / Manipulation / Incomplete abortion / by curettage

06908 - Gynecology / Uterus and cervix / Manipulation / Abortion / by menstrual extraction (including cervical dilation, insertion of laminar rods)

06909 - Gynecology / Uterus and cervix / Manipulation / Abortion / curettage (including cervical dilation, laminar rod insertion) (PG-28)

06941 - Gynecology / Uterus and cervix / Manipulation / Therapeutic abortion from 14 weeks / One time: (including the block paracervical, cervical dilation, insertion of laminar rods) / aspiration, curettage and evacuation of the fetus (P.G. 2.4.7.7 C) (P.C. 13)

06948 - Gynecology / Uterus and cervix / Manipulation / Abortion from 14 weeks / Two times: / 1st time: induction, all methods including, if necessary, the evacuation of the fetus (P.G. 2.4.7.7 C)

06949 - Gynecology / Uterus and cervix / Manipulation / Abortion from the 14th to the 19th week of pregnancy inclusively / 2nd time: curettage or spontaneous expulsion (PG-28)

Canada abortion rates by province

Ideally I would have used actual abortion numbers from each province, and had actual numbers from CIHI. But that seems like an impossible dream. We know Alberta is under reports because they don't count medical abortions. We know that CIHI also isn't reporting medical abortions. We know that Quebec and Ontario under report their abortions by 20%. And that's just what we know, we don't know.

So instead I just used CIHI's numbers.

Quebec abortions at least 20% higher than reported by CIHI

I have good news and I have bad news.

The good news is that Quebec's abortion rates appear to be decreasing. The bad news is that what CIHI reports for Quebec abortions is under reported by at least 20%.

I did a freedom of information request of Quebec Health RAMQ. This is what I asked for:

1. The number of abortions done in a Canadian province, other than Quebec, reimbursed by RAMQ, as well as the total cost, for each of the last five years, broken down by hospital, by clinic, and by physician's office. 

2. The number abortions done in Quebec, reimbursed by RAMQ, as well as the total cost, for each of the last five years, broken down by hospital, by clinic, and by physician's office. 

3. The number abortions done in the United States, reimbursed by RAMQ, as well as the total cost, for each of the last five years.

Below are scans of what I received back. Sorry for the poor quality.

The first three scans are the numbers of abortions done in Quebec, and the last scan is of the abortions done in a province outside of Quebec.

Ignoring the 2019 stats (the year isn't finished yet) and the 2014 stats (doesn't seem to be online anymore at CIHI's site), I looked at 2015, 2016 and 2017 and compared them to CIHI's numbers.

Here they are (and for this calculation I ignored the out of province abortions so the actual abortions are even higher than this):

2015 RAMQ/CIHI 29,036/24,193 (difference of 4,843)
2016 RAMQ/CIHI 28,086/23,393 (difference of 4,693)
2017 RAMQ/CIHI 27,621/22,966 (difference of 4,655)

For the abortions done out of province, I noticed something interesting. For those done under "Services professionels" (380 of them), the average cost was about $308. For those done under "Services hospitaliers" the average cost was about $1,580. It seems probable that these are late-term abortions because of the much higher cost.

Regarding abortions done if the US, I was told:

"Furthermore, we wish to inform you that we have not reimbursed any abortion performed in the US." [sic]

Abortion statistics published for 2011

CIHI's 2011 abortion statistics

Re Quebec's statistics this year (they weren't reported at all in 2010):

"Hospital and clinic breakdowns for Quebec were not available for 2011 at the time of publication"

Quebec totals were published though. However, they are most probably under reported like all abortion statistics, because clinics are not mandated to report.

There are also still no statistics reported on abortions done in private physician's offices.

Still waiting for Quebec abortion stats for 2010

I'm still trying to find out when the 2010 Quebec abortion statistics will be published by CIHI. Here is the latest status I have received from CIHI:

"We still anticipate receiving Quebec data this fall. We plan to publish it late winter, as part of our 2011 data tables. We’ll let you know when the release date is confirmed so that you are aware."