A Doctor Who Knows What It Means to Flee
Ottawa has long prided itself on being a welcoming city for refugees and newcomers — but a quietly introduced federal policy change is putting that reputation to the test. A new co-payment model under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) now requires refugees to pay $4 per prescription and cover 30 per cent of supplemental service costs, including dental and vision care.
For one Ottawa-based physician who arrived in Canada as a refugee herself, the change is more than a policy shift — it's personal.
"I felt love when I came here," she told the Ottawa Citizen. "Canada opened its arms. Now I'm watching my patients — people in the same situation I was in — being turned away because they can't afford a $4 prescription."
What Changed and Why It Matters
The IFHP has historically provided health coverage to refugees and refugee claimants who don't yet qualify for provincial health insurance. The program has been a lifeline for tens of thousands of people navigating an already overwhelming immigration system.
The new co-payment structure, introduced earlier this year, is being framed by the federal government as a cost-sharing measure to bring the program in line with what Canadian residents pay under provincial drug plans. But advocates and frontline health workers say the comparison is misleading.
Refugees often arrive with nothing. Many are fleeing war, persecution, or extreme poverty. A $4 fee — small by most Canadians' standards — can be a genuine barrier for someone with no income, no bank account, and no safety net.
"These are not people gaming the system," said one Ottawa-based refugee health advocate. "These are people who left everything behind. Charging them for a blood pressure medication or a dental visit is not a savings measure — it's a cruelty."
The View from Ottawa Clinics
Ottawa has a well-established infrastructure for supporting newcomers, including several clinics and organizations that specialize in refugee health. But those on the front lines say they're already seeing the impact.
Patients are skipping prescriptions. Some are going without follow-up care. Others, embarrassed by their inability to pay, are simply not coming back.
The 30 per cent co-payment on supplemental services is particularly concerning for refugees dealing with trauma, mental health challenges, or chronic conditions that were left untreated in their home countries or in transit.
"Mental health care, dental care, vision — these are not luxuries," the doctor said. "For many of my patients, these are the first medical services they've ever had proper access to. Cutting them off now, when they're most vulnerable, makes no sense."
What Advocates Are Calling For
Health advocates across Canada, including several Ottawa-based organizations, are calling on the federal government to reverse the co-payment model and restore full, barrier-free coverage under the IFHP.
They argue the long-term costs of leaving refugees without proper care — missed diagnoses, untreated chronic conditions, mental health crises — will far outweigh any short-term savings from the co-payment fees.
For now, Ottawa's refugee health community is doing what it can: connecting patients with charitable prescription programs, advocating for waivers, and hoping the policy gets a second look before more people fall through the cracks.
"Canada was my second chance," the doctor said. "I just want these patients to have the same one I did."
Source: Ottawa Citizen. Read the original story at ottawacitizen.com.
