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"Minister Kenney is shielding a racist policy under cost-cutting austerity measures and allegations of abuse." - James Clancy, National President, NUPGE
Ottawa (14 June 2012) - Health care professionals across the country will be staging a National Day of Action for Refugee Health Care on Monday, June 18 against the Conservative government's cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP).
As Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney recently announced, as of June 30, refugees in Canada will be cut off access to treatment for chronic diseases including hypertension, angina, diabetes, high cholesterol and lung disease.
So far the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the Canadian Association of Optometrists, the Canadian Association of Social Workers, the Canadian Dental Association, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Nurses Association, the Canadian Pharmacists Association and the Canadian Association of Community Health Centres are organizing behind the Day of Action in an effort to put pressure on the federal government to change its position.
"This Conservative government continues to attack the most vulnerable people in our communities," said James Clancy, National President of the 340,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "Minister Kenne seems not to care that refusing treatment to refugees now will only burden the health care system down the road for all Canadians. Will he bear the responsibility for creating a future public health crisis? I don't think so."
No other Canadians are denied these treatments.
A previous day of protest held on May 11, saw doctors protest on Parliament Hill, hold news conferences in London, Ontario and rally in Montreal against the changes. Over 90 doctors travelled from across the Greater Toronto Area to occupy the office of Joe Oliver, member of the Conservative cabinet and Member of Parliament for Eglinton-Lawrence.
In this Youtube video, Dr. Philip Berger, chief of family medicine at St. Michael's Hospital, asked why the Minister was not meeting with his constituents and area physicians to discuss the "serious concerns" they have regarding the change in policy.
Reading from a document from the Citizenship and Immigration department under which the refugee health program operates, Berger says under the policy the federal government is proposing to put refugee patient lives at risk. In the document, Berger says, "under the section called medical emergencies - heart attack. Coverage provided, based on client status, for heart attack - none." He continues, "How can that be in Canada that an official document, the federal government puts out a document says that people having heart attacks are not going to provide medical coverage for them."
The police were quickly called and protestors, including many constituents, were removed from the office to continue the protest on the sidewalk.
The public is encouraged to show its opposition to the changes to refugee health care. The group, Doctors for Refugee Care, has started an online petition and is asking people to write or call Minister Kenney personally to ask him to stop these changes.
More information:
Harper cuts to refugee health care violation of medical ethics
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE