Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews has added her support behind the national campaign against Ottawa’s planned cuts to health services for refugees.
In a letter to federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, Matthews urged Ottawa to reverse its decision to significantly reduce health coverage for refugee claimants.
“By abdicating your responsibility toward some of the most vulnerable in our society, you have effectively downloaded federal costs onto the provincial health-care system,” Matthews wrote in a letter, dated Wednesday.
As of Saturday, all refugee claimants will lose their supplemental benefits. Those who are rejected after exhausting all appeals will not be eligible for free health care of any kind unless their conditions pose a risk to public health or safety.
The changes are expected to save the federal government $100 million over five years.
The funding cuts for medications and other early health-care interventions for refugees will deny the care for many people in the province, Matthews warned. Ontario is home to almost half of Canada’s refugees.
“Should a refugee claimant suffer a heart attack, your government will now refuse any health-care coverage. It is grossly irresponsible to withhold funding for this care in such a life-threatening situation,” Matthews said in the letter obtained by the Star.
She said Ontario’s health-care system will not turn away those in need of emergency medical treatment despite the anticipation of an influx of patients with “avoidable health conditions” to hospital emergency.
“One downtown Toronto hospital estimates $1.3 million in annual costs to care for refugees — much of which they will no longer be able to claim,” Matthews’ letter said.
“This cost could rise if they have to contend with unchecked medical conditions. The result will be greater pressure on our health care system for all Ontarians.”
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Nicholas Keung
In a letter to federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, Matthews urged Ottawa to reverse its decision to significantly reduce health coverage for refugee claimants.
“By abdicating your responsibility toward some of the most vulnerable in our society, you have effectively downloaded federal costs onto the provincial health-care system,” Matthews wrote in a letter, dated Wednesday.
As of Saturday, all refugee claimants will lose their supplemental benefits. Those who are rejected after exhausting all appeals will not be eligible for free health care of any kind unless their conditions pose a risk to public health or safety.
The changes are expected to save the federal government $100 million over five years.
The funding cuts for medications and other early health-care interventions for refugees will deny the care for many people in the province, Matthews warned. Ontario is home to almost half of Canada’s refugees.
“Should a refugee claimant suffer a heart attack, your government will now refuse any health-care coverage. It is grossly irresponsible to withhold funding for this care in such a life-threatening situation,” Matthews said in the letter obtained by the Star.
She said Ontario’s health-care system will not turn away those in need of emergency medical treatment despite the anticipation of an influx of patients with “avoidable health conditions” to hospital emergency.
“One downtown Toronto hospital estimates $1.3 million in annual costs to care for refugees — much of which they will no longer be able to claim,” Matthews’ letter said.
“This cost could rise if they have to contend with unchecked medical conditions. The result will be greater pressure on our health care system for all Ontarians.”
Source: the star
Author: Nicholas Keung
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