Pharmacists Join Chorus of Health Care Professionals Concerned about Cuts to Refugee Health Benefits

Pharmacists have joined physicians, nurses, dentists and social workers in a bid to persuade the federal immigration minister to change his mind about restricting extended health benefits for refugees. The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is among 8 national associations representing health and social services practitioners that are warning of the risks of the new policy and are requesting its reversal. Benefits need to be restored to all refugees “to ensure the health and well-being of our society's most vulnerable populations,” the associations said in a letter to Jason Kenney on July 5, 2012. The health care community has been outspoken in its criticism of the changes to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) since Mr. Kenny announced earlier this year that $20 million a year in program benefits would be cut by June 30. The minister said that refugees would no longer have access to what he called “gold-plated” extras not available to all Canadians — including coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, eyeglasses and wheelchairs. Mr. Kenney later stated that government-sponsored refugees would still receive those benefits. That still leaves about two-thirds of refugees without supplementary health benefits, says Dr. Jeff Poston, executive director of the CPhA. The policy is shortsighted, says Dr. Poston, given that health care providers may end up referring refugees to already overburdened emergency departments and those who aren't given proper treatment will end up costing the system more. The program cuts are not only contrary to Canadian values of compassion and inclusiveness, he adds, but they are a threat to the quality of patient care and will put pharmacists in difficult and confusing situations. “What do you do with a refugee who is a diabetic and has been taking medication, and is now not covered? Are we going to cut off treatment? We also don't know if their coverage might be picked up by provincial programs — there's such a lack of clarity.” “Our request is to have all the benefits restored,” he says. “However, if they do stay with the policy, it is important to be very clear about who is covered and who is not, and what are some of the options with respect to provincial plans?” The issue is expected to remain in the public domain for quite some time. Opposition politicians have vowed to keep the issue alive when Parliament resumes in September. In addition, a group of physicians has formed “Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care,” which has vowed to track and publicize cases of death or serious harm resulting from the policy.

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