A Medicare@50 blog post by:
Dr. Mike Dillon – Family Physician
Klinic Community Health Centre (Winnipeg MB)

June 17th 2013 will mark a year since the first National Day of Action for Refugee Health Care. One year ago, all newcomer refugees in Canada were informed by the Federal Government that the health care services supported by the Government of Canada through the IFH (Interim Federal Health Program) were to be severely curtailed.

One year ago, Community Health Centres, health care providers and refugee settlement and support workers joined together with their patients and colleagues from coast to coast in an unprecedented show of opposition to the ill-conceived and unilateral cuts to care.

In response to the nationwide protest, the Federal Government modified the application of the IFH cuts to maintain full health care coverage and limited additional benefits for pre-approved Federal Government Assisted Refugees. Contrary to what some have suggested about these services being « more comprehensive » than what other Canadians receive, these benefits are comparable to the health and social services benefits provided for the poorest of Canadians.

However, for many other categories of refugees, the cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program were imposed. With this, important and essential services have been abandoned for most privately-sponsored Refugees, and individuals making refugee claims from within Canada have been severely restricted in their access to Health Services in Canada.

These cuts have had the effect of putting up barriers to care: in many Canadian centres refugees have delayed seeking care until they are quite ill, out of fear of being billed for health services they cannot afford. Many patients and their families have suffered unnecessarily due to these cuts, and many are avoiding health care altogether. This will undoubtedly lead to great harm for newcomer individuals, their families, and society in general. We are all affected by this, since this is now placing added financial and other strains on the provincial health services upon which we all rely. 

In some provinces, such as Manitoba, other levels of government have stepped forward to help. Recognizing the value added to our society by newcomers, and the humanitarian obligation to support good health for all in the community, Provincial Health and Social Assistance programs have temporarily filled the void left by the withdrawal of Federal Health support for many refugees.

In Manitoba, the potentially serious health and social effects of the IFH cuts have been softened by the Province working in collaboration with support communities and care providers. Nevertheless, many newcomers are still not finding it easy to get access to care, and many are avoiding care completely.

Once again, the community of care is requesting the Federal Government of Canada to reinstate the full benefits of the Interim Federal Health Program for all categories of newcomer refugees, who only hope to enjoy the best possible health for themselves and their families, and to contribute with their skills, wisdom and resilience to the greater good of this country.

On Monday, June 17, 2013, join in the second National Day of Action for Refugee Health Care. Rallies are scheduled in 19 cities across Canada, listed below from west to east coast. A full list of the local times and locations can be found here.

Victoria, BC | Vancouver, BC

Calgary, AB | Edmonton, AB

Saskatoon, SK

Winnipeg, MB

Thunder Bay, ON | Sudbury, ON | Windsor, ON | London, ON | Kitchener, ON | Guelph, ON | Hamilton, ON | Toronto, ON | Kingston, ON | Ottawa, ON

Montreal, QC

Halifax, NS

St. John’s, NFLD