B.C. to fund phalloplasty surgery for transgender men
BY LARKIN SCHMIEDL | OCTOBER 2, 2012http://rabble.ca/news/2012/10/bc-fund-phalloplasty-surgery-transgender-menThe province of B.C.'s Medical Services Plan (MSP) has opted to begin covering phalloplasty, or the surgical creation of a penis, for transgender men.
Dr. Gail Knudson, who is the chief assessor for gender-confirming surgery in the province, made the announcement at the Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health (CPATH) conference in Winnipeg last week.
It will be covered for five people a year, said Ryan Jabs, communications officer at B.C.'s Ministry of Health.
Phalloplasty is currently covered in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Québec, said François Grenier, executive assistant at CPATH.
"With British Columbia getting on board and valuing the medical necessity of phalloplasty, then that's going to influence other provinces too," said Oulton.
All Canadian phalloplasty patients must travel to Montréal for surgery, where it's performed at the Brassard plastic surgery clinic.
