New York will provide abortion medication at no cost in four city-run clinics, Mayor Eric Adams (D), announced Tuesday. He also presented an agenda to address health care inequities in New York City.

“Health and care have been too focused on men for too long. Men who have periods, pap smears, and menopause would be entitled to a vacation. Adams made a broad address about women’s health, stating that if men were able to get pregnant, Congress wouldn’t try to restrict abortion.

He said, “We have been sitting on the sidelines for women’s health too long, and have seen firsthand how our health system is letting women down.”

According to the governor’s office, abortion pills will be available at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Bronx) starting Wednesday. Three additional clinics in Brooklyn and Manhattan are expected to begin dispensing the medication by year’s end.

Together, the four sites could disperse as many as 10,000 abortion pills annually, along with the pills that are dispensed at the city’s hospitals, which already have the medication.

Patients will be able to get the pills at no cost in the city-funded clinics. This is to avoid any financial or insurance problems that might arise in hospitals.

“No other city in America or the world has a public hospital that provides medication abortion. Adams stated that we are the first.

This is part of his New York City Women’s Health Agenda, which he announced Tuesday at City Hall with city health officials.

“It’s long past time that we end taboos, and make New York City a role model for women’s health care. Adams stated that we are building a city that is inclusive for all women and girls.

Mayor’s comprehensive plan includes initiatives to make the city, workplaces and more women’s friendly in terms of health care. This includes lactation rooms for mothers who are nursing as well as paid leave to receive cancer screenings.

According to the city, the agenda also focuses on addressing racial disparities within women’s health care. For example, the maternal mortality rate for pregnant Black women is nine times higher than that of pregnant white women.