Calgary doctors speak out against refugee health cuts
Posted Jun 17, 2013 1:58 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Canadian doctors are calling on the federal government to restore refugee health coverage, a year after drastic cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program.
There are rallies and demonstrations being held across the country.
The medical director of the Calgary Refugee Health Clinic says these cuts have left many refugees, including pregnant woman and children, without funding for healthcare or medications.
Dr. Annalee Coakley says until July of last year, refugees received a basic level of temporary assistance, which many have now lost altogether.
“I’m really concerned about people leaving the emergency department when they are critically ill, because I think its only a matter of time before somebody actually dies.” She says.
Dr. Coakley says if the ethical argument doesn’t fly with policymakers, they need to know that denying primary and preventative care ultimately costs the system and the taxpayer more money.
