Standing up for refugee health
Update - University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine facilitates learner participation in National Day of Action. Please see http://www.doctorsforrefugeecare.ca/further-reading-survey.html for more on this unprecedented and welcome move by the university.
Update - Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care announces new National Day of Action being planned for June 17th. Please see http://www.doctorsforrefugeecare.ca/day-of-action-june-17-2013.html for details.
Update - Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care joins Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers in Charter challenge over federal government cuts to refugee health care. More information here: http://www.refugeelawyersgroup.ca/node/58.
Update - Please see below for important information on the tracking of consequences of the Interim Federal Health Program cuts: Refugee HOMES monitoring tool.
On June 30th, 2012, the federal government made cuts to important health care services for refugees. For example, many refugees living in, Canada will no longer qualify for coverage for necessary medications such as insulin. Some refugee claimants will also be denied access to physicians unless their condition is deemed a threat to public health or safety. Among other health care services to be cut for some or all refugees are: prenatal care for pregnant women, well child care and access to mental health care.
On May 11th, doctors in cities across the country, many of whom treat refugees on a daily basis, organized demonstrations, press conferences and public events to protest these changes. This included a visit to a federal cabinet Minister's office in Toronto by more than 50 physicians. Following an overwhelming positive response from the medical community and public at large, several physicians have come together to launch Doctors for Refugee Care.
On June 18th, more than 2,000 health care workers participated in a National Day of Action to protect refugee health care services - an initiative that was supported by a number of national health care groups.
Late on June 29th, the federal government made partial revisions to its planned cuts that maintained services to some refugees, specifically those who are classified as Government Assisted Refugees. Other groups of refugees however are stil losing important health benefits.
Doctors for Refugee Care believes that:
· Canada’s approach to medically treating refugees should be guided by fairness and sound public health policy; the federal government’s changes meet neither criteria
· Cutting preventative and primary health care is poor health policy that threatens public safety and increases costs to taxpayers
· The government’s cuts to health services to refugees residing in this country – some of whom will have just escaped war, violence or famine – is unjust and counter to Canada's long history of compassion and openness.
Dear Canadian healthcare provider,
The purpose of Refugee Health Outcome Monitoring and Evaluation System (Refugee HOMES) is to monitor the effects of changes to the Interim Federal Health Program effective from 30 June 2012 on adverse health outcomes experienced by refugees in Canada. The online data submission from can be accessed at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/66KPGVS
Ou, en français à:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WD9DHMS
This adverse outcome monitoring system relies on accurate and timely information being provided voluntarily by you, the care provider. It is important to both quantify the impact of the changes in coverage and to share the stories of the people affected. Please promptly and without exaggeration or embellishment report all adverse outcomes suffered by refugees that are related to healthcare or medication access.
Details of the changes to the Interim Federal Health Program and the new classification system for refugees based on their country of origin can be found on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/outside/coverage.asp
Please complete one form for each independent adverse outcome. You may complete multiple forms for a single patient if the patient has suffered multiple independent adverse outcomes, or if the severity of an adverse outcome has changed significantly (e.g. complete a second form if a patient who was hospitalized for angina suffers a myocardial infarction). Do not complete multiple forms for the same adverse outcome.
The only mandatory field is the contact information of the care provider completing the form. This information may be used to verify the accuracy of information on this form or to obtain additional information about the adverse outcome but it will not be used for any other purpose.
Please do not include any information that would allow individual patients to be identified. Please indicate on the form if you, the patient or a representative of the patient are willing to publicly explain how the patient was affected by the changes to the Interim Federal Health Program.
Any potentially preventable deaths should be both reported using this form and promptly reported to the appropriate coroner or medical examiner.
We will periodically publicize summaries of the adverse outcome data collected across Canada. We will also make periodic updates to this data collection form and we welcome your feedback.
Please notify your colleagues of this important monitoring system by, for example, circulating this letter. Thank you very much for your diligence.
Sincerely,
Refugee HOMES Team
Update - Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care announces new National Day of Action being planned for June 17th. Please see http://www.doctorsforrefugeecare.ca/day-of-action-june-17-2013.html for details.
Update - Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care joins Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers in Charter challenge over federal government cuts to refugee health care. More information here: http://www.refugeelawyersgroup.ca/node/58.
Update - Please see below for important information on the tracking of consequences of the Interim Federal Health Program cuts: Refugee HOMES monitoring tool.
On June 30th, 2012, the federal government made cuts to important health care services for refugees. For example, many refugees living in, Canada will no longer qualify for coverage for necessary medications such as insulin. Some refugee claimants will also be denied access to physicians unless their condition is deemed a threat to public health or safety. Among other health care services to be cut for some or all refugees are: prenatal care for pregnant women, well child care and access to mental health care.
On May 11th, doctors in cities across the country, many of whom treat refugees on a daily basis, organized demonstrations, press conferences and public events to protest these changes. This included a visit to a federal cabinet Minister's office in Toronto by more than 50 physicians. Following an overwhelming positive response from the medical community and public at large, several physicians have come together to launch Doctors for Refugee Care.
On June 18th, more than 2,000 health care workers participated in a National Day of Action to protect refugee health care services - an initiative that was supported by a number of national health care groups.
Late on June 29th, the federal government made partial revisions to its planned cuts that maintained services to some refugees, specifically those who are classified as Government Assisted Refugees. Other groups of refugees however are stil losing important health benefits.
Doctors for Refugee Care believes that:
· Canada’s approach to medically treating refugees should be guided by fairness and sound public health policy; the federal government’s changes meet neither criteria
· Cutting preventative and primary health care is poor health policy that threatens public safety and increases costs to taxpayers
· The government’s cuts to health services to refugees residing in this country – some of whom will have just escaped war, violence or famine – is unjust and counter to Canada's long history of compassion and openness.
Dear Canadian healthcare provider,
The purpose of Refugee Health Outcome Monitoring and Evaluation System (Refugee HOMES) is to monitor the effects of changes to the Interim Federal Health Program effective from 30 June 2012 on adverse health outcomes experienced by refugees in Canada. The online data submission from can be accessed at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/66KPGVS
Ou, en français à:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WD9DHMS
This adverse outcome monitoring system relies on accurate and timely information being provided voluntarily by you, the care provider. It is important to both quantify the impact of the changes in coverage and to share the stories of the people affected. Please promptly and without exaggeration or embellishment report all adverse outcomes suffered by refugees that are related to healthcare or medication access.
Details of the changes to the Interim Federal Health Program and the new classification system for refugees based on their country of origin can be found on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/outside/coverage.asp
Please complete one form for each independent adverse outcome. You may complete multiple forms for a single patient if the patient has suffered multiple independent adverse outcomes, or if the severity of an adverse outcome has changed significantly (e.g. complete a second form if a patient who was hospitalized for angina suffers a myocardial infarction). Do not complete multiple forms for the same adverse outcome.
The only mandatory field is the contact information of the care provider completing the form. This information may be used to verify the accuracy of information on this form or to obtain additional information about the adverse outcome but it will not be used for any other purpose.
Please do not include any information that would allow individual patients to be identified. Please indicate on the form if you, the patient or a representative of the patient are willing to publicly explain how the patient was affected by the changes to the Interim Federal Health Program.
Any potentially preventable deaths should be both reported using this form and promptly reported to the appropriate coroner or medical examiner.
We will periodically publicize summaries of the adverse outcome data collected across Canada. We will also make periodic updates to this data collection form and we welcome your feedback.
Please notify your colleagues of this important monitoring system by, for example, circulating this letter. Thank you very much for your diligence.
Sincerely,
Refugee HOMES Team
