By selecting this topic for the June 2012 blog, Pacific Health & Development Sciences (PacificSci) adds its support to this protest.
We acknowledge the sources cited for the factual content presented, but take responsibility for our reconstruction of the situation.
The Situation: CHANGES TO CANADA’S REFUGEE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
Canada’s federal government recently announced major changes to the Interim Federal Health (IFH) program, including substantial cuts to health services for refugees, to come into effect on June 30, 2012. These include reduction of ‘basic’ coverage, including primary and preventive care, and ‘supplemental’ coverage similar to that available to many low-income Canadians.
These changes are extremely short-sighted. They will result in diverting care for people in greatest need to urgent care settings, and may even give rise to public health threats such as tuberculosis especially if diagnosis is delayed or the condition left untreated. To deny health care to refugees is to inappropriately burden both Canada’s health system and the health of Canadians.
Refugees have often fled situations that involved trauma and significant health impacts. Canada should provide care that facilitates health and well-being throughout the settlement process. The impact on pregnant women, children, and those with chronic diseases, is of particular concern.
It should be obvious to any fair-minded observer that the proposed changes will complicate the refugee settlement process, exacerbating barriers and inequities in access to health care and the potential for good health outcomes among an already disadvantaged group. This is both socially unjust and contradicts the principles of the Canada Health Act.
Resolution: PacificSci thus joins with all organizations now calling for the Federal government to rescind these proposed changes before they are implemented. The refugee health program should continue to provide basic benefits similar to provincial/territorial health care plans and supplemental benefits similar to what provinces and territories provide under social welfare.
References:
1. PHABC Position on Changes to Health Care Coverage for Refugees. http://www.phabc.org/userfiles/file/PHABCPositiononChangestoHealthCareCoverageforRefugees(1).pdf Accessed June 15, 2012.
2. Press Release. Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care, Reading Page. http://www.doctorsforrefugeecare.ca/further-reading.html Accessed June 15, 2012.
3. Brindamour M, Meili R. Treat Refugees with care. Star Phoenix, June 15, 2012. http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Treat+refugees+with+care/6785828/story.html#ixzz1xvQdbfO2 Accessed June 15, 2012.
