Aug. 2, 2023
Cumming School of Medicine alumna advocates for reproductive rights
Dr. Rupinder Toor, BSc'92, MD'96, a longtime advocate for women's health and reproductive rights, has taken her commitment to secure universally available free birth control to a national level.
On July 27, , a not-for-profit she founded, launched a with the House of Commons. The petition will accept signatures until Aug. 25, 2023. The goal is to have a federal government commitment by Sept. 26, 2023&苍产蝉辫;鈥 World Contraception Day&苍产蝉辫;鈥 to a national policy that will provide free prescription birth control to Canadians.
"So far, this petition has been the only opportunity for the people of Canada to weigh in on the issue, and we hope they will send the government a strong show of support that now is the time to take action to ensure that access to birth control will always be secure in Canada," says Toor, a family physician and clinical lecturer at the .
Earlier this year, British Columbia announced it would provide universal contraception coverage to any B.C. resident. Citizens of Quebec are also eligible for 80-per cent coverage of their birth control. Toor believes there should be a national approach to free prescription birth control to ensure all Canadians have equal, consistent access to contraception.
Rupinder Toor
"Reproductive rights are human rights and cannot be left to the whim of changing provincial governments; they must be protected on a federal level," says Toor.
In a , Toor describes the positive impact of reproductive choice on families and communities. She consistently asks her patients two questions to clarify their reproductive life plan: 鈥淲hen do you want to become pregnant?鈥 and, 鈥淗ow important is it for you not to be pregnant until you are ready?鈥 When re-framing the topic of birth control around the idea of a reproductive life plan, women feel empowered to choose for themselves if and when they get pregnant. As Toor discussed in her TEDx talk, 鈥淩eproductive liberty is a necessary step to self-actualization.鈥
Toor has provided unwavering support to women鈥檚 health in Calgary. She is the founder and medical director of , a women鈥檚 clinic that provides quality health care to women. The clinic hosts a team of more than 15 female physicians and offers two clinical services: primary women鈥檚 health care and intra-uterine device (IUD) services.
Toor received the 2017 Cumming School of Medicine in recognition of her outstanding service to our community and her significant and ongoing contributions to women鈥檚 health in Calgary. Her contributions have been recognized with many other accolades, including the Global Women of Vision Award, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Canadian College of Family Physicians Recognition of Excellence Award, Immigrant Services Calgary鈥檚 Immigrant of Distinction, the Calgary Board of Education鈥檚 Legacy Award, and the Outstanding Service Award from the India-Canada Association of Calgary.
Learn more about activities to educate and improve access for long-term birth control in Canada. It is currently recruiting youth ambassadors and other volunteers.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 in recognition of outstanding achievements by Cumming School of Medicine graduates. The successful nominees will have made significant and ongoing contributions in one of the following categories: service, education or research. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 23, 2023. The winner will be chosen by Medicine Alumni Advisory Council members and announced in November.