Nova Scotia’s Houston government says it’s moving forward on a campaign promise to create Canada’s first Menopause Centre of Excellence.
While on the campaign trail in October 2024, Premier Tim Houston vowed his government would open a specialized clinic dedicated to managing symptoms related to perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause.
The province issued an update Wednesday, saying a request for proposals has been issued for clinic space, which is expected to open in Halifax sometime next winter.
“This clinic will work to close a gap in healthcare that has existed for too long, providing women the specialized, dedicated care they deserve,” said Houston in a news release.
The province says there are roughly 350,000 women in Nova Scotia over the age of 40 who are managing menopause, post-menopause or approaching menopause.
The clinic will be staffed by a number of health-care providers, including a general practitioner, registered nurse, pelvic floor physiotherapist, dietitian and gynecologist, who will deliver in-person and virtual care.
The Department of Health and Wellness is partnering with the Menopause Society of Nova Scotia, IWK Health and Nova Scotia Health to establish the Menopause Centre of Excellence.
“Women have clearly indicated that menopause is a top health priority, and we know there is demand for better access to menopause care and information,” said Dr. Maria Migas, co-founder of the Menopause Society of Nova Scotia.
“We’re excited to be a partner in this work and for the Menopause Centre of Excellence to take shape to offer women this care when they need it.”
The province says research and education components will be added to the centre over time.
At the time of the campaign announcement, Houston said the start-up costs for the clinic were expected to be in the range of $4 million, with annual costs of roughly $2.4 million.