Healthcare Policy
Barriers and Solutions to Healthcare Access for Immigrants in Canada
Michael Y. Guo, Ahmer A. Karimuddin, Michael Bond and Jason M. Sutherland
Abstract
Canada has higher rates of immigration than many high-income countries. Provinces’ health systems have been slow to adapt new policies and practices to accommodate the newcomers. New immigrants are left to “shoehorn” themselves into health systems that weren’t designed for their languages, culture or preferences for care. For immigrants, language barriers impede communication, undermine the clinician-patient relationship and discourage healthcare-seeking behaviors. New policies are needed to break down barriers, so provinces’ health systems don’t exacerbate health inequalities
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