FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MP Jenny Kwan, Health-Care Workers and Advocates Condemn Discriminatory Federal Fees for Refugee Health Care
OTTAWA, ON — April 22, 2026 — Member of Parliament Jenny Kwan, alongside frontline health-care professionals and advocates from across Canada, today denounced the federal government’s planned co-payment measures under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), warning the policy will restrict access to essential care for refugee claimants and ultimately increase costs to the health-care system at a press conference on Parliament Hill.
MP Kwan was joined by Sara Habibyar, a former refugee and healthcare worker; Dr. Edward Xie, an emergency room physician; Dr. Vanessa Reddit and Dr. Manal Badi, family physicians; Ilda Azzam, a social worker and psychotherapist; Dr. Nazila Bettache, an internal medicine specialist; and Dr. Charles Hui, a pediatric infectious disease specialist.
The changes, set to take effect on May 1, will require refugee claimants to pay a $4 fee per prescription and 30% of the cost of supplemental services such as dental, vision, and mental health care. The IFHP provides temporary health coverage to refugees and asylum seekers before they are eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance.
The announcement comes amid growing national opposition, including coordinated rallies and a cross-country “Day of Action” held in multiple cities. Health-care professionals, legal advocates, and refugee support organizations have warned that even modest co-payments can create significant barriers for individuals already facing financial hardship.
"This policy punishes people who have already endured immense hardship by placing new financial barriers between them and the care they need,” said Kwan. “It is fundamentally at odds with Canada’s commitment to equitable and accessible health care.”
Evidence from Canada and internationally shows that co-payment systems reduce access to medications and preventive care, particularly for low-income populations. Health experts warn that this can lead to worsening health conditions, increased emergency room visits, and higher long-term system costs.
"We know exactly what happens when people cannot afford care—they delay treatment, their conditions worsen, and they end up needing more intensive and expensive interventions,” Kwan said. “This does not reduce costs; it shifts them in ways that increase human suffering and strain our public health system.”
Advocates also point to the broader policy context, noting recent federal efforts to reduce public spending and tighten immigration measures. The co-payment changes have raised concerns about a pattern of policies that disproportionately impact refugees and migrants at a time when many are already struggling with the high cost of living and the challenges of resettlement.
Legal and medical experts have further cautioned that similar cuts to refugee health coverage in 2012 were struck down by the Federal Court of Canada as “cruel and unusual treatment,” underscoring the potential constitutional and ethical implications of the current policy.
Despite assurances that core services—such as doctor visits, hospital care, and diagnostic testing—will remain fully covered, health-care providers stress that access to medications and supplemental services is essential to preventing more serious health issues.
"A universal health-care system cannot pick and choose who gets meaningful access to care,” Kwan added. “We must not create a two-tier system that leaves refugees and asylum seekers behind.”
MP Kwan called on the federal government to immediately rescind the discriminatory measures and work collaboratively with health-care providers, advocates, and affected communities to strengthen equitable access to care.
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