Starting a new life in Canada can be a daunting prospect. The government of Canada seeks to ensure the health and well-being of all refugees with readily accessible healthcare under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). The IFHP covers a variety of health services for resettled refugees, protected persons, refugee claimants, victims of human trafficking, as well as individuals detained by Canada Border Services Agency.
IFHP In the Context of International Law
The “right to health” has been recognized by the Canadian Government, in accordance with a number of international agreements. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights mentions the right to health as part of the right to an adequate standard of living. In the context of international law, Canada is responsible for providing the right to heal for all citizens, immigrants, and refugees as a natural human right.
History
In Canada, the federal government has been responsible for providing health care to refugees via IFHP since 1957. Originally introduced through an Order-in-Council by the federal government, IFHP has been been run and overseen by Citizenship and Immigration Canada since 1995.
The Canadian government introduced a series of cuts and reform to the program in April 2012, which divided asylum seekers into three different levels of coverage based on the individual’s status and country of origin.
This limited the benefits of certain refugees, while severely limiting health care for refugee claimants from certain “Designated Countries of Origin.” As of 2016, however, the program has been restored to its pre-2012 foundations, with additional coverage covering immigration medical exams, vaccinations, treatment of disease outbreaks in refugee camps, and en-route medical support.
What Does IFHP Cover?
IFHP covers a variety of services, though the specifics of coverage may vary depending on individual eligibility. Covered services include the following:
- Hospital visits and ambulance services
- Essential vaccines and medications
- Pregnancy and midwifery services
- Some vision and dental care
- Services by clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, speech language therapists, physiotherapists and other health professionals
- Home care and long-term care
- One Immigration Medical Exam (IME)
