Health Care for Refugees

2013:01EI HEALTH CARE FOR REFUGEES

Whereas:

1. Before June 30, 2012, the Interim Federal Health Program provided temporary basic health-care coverage for refugees, including supplemental health-care services.
2. On June 30, 2012, a reformed program reduced health-care coverage for rejected refugee claimants and claimants from Designated Countries, limiting coverage to services or products protecting public health or safety.
3. Under the new rules, supplemental benefits for all refugees ended.
4. Federal government cuts shifted refugee health-care costs to provinces, predicted to increase hospital emergency room visits.
5. On February 25, 2013, Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, along with individual patients, filed a Federal Court case claiming the health-care cuts were unconstitutional and illegal.

Resolved:

1. The National Council of Women of Canada adopts as policy that all refugees should receive basic health-care coverage and supplemental health-care services.
2. The National Council of Women of Canada urges the Government of Canada to restore basic health-care coverage for all refugees, including supplemental health-care services.