Canada refugees begin copays for drugs, dental care

TORONTO Refugees and refugee claimants in Canada began paying out-of-pocket for parts of their drug prescriptions, mental health counselling, dental services, vision care and health equipment such as wheelchairs on Friday, as changes to the federal Interim Federal Health Program took effect.

The program, which has provided full health coverage to this group for decades until they qualify for provincial plans, now requires a $4 copayment per prescription and 30 percent of the cost for supplemental products and services. Doctors' appointments and hospital visits remain fully covered.

The federal government announced the copayments in last year's budget, describing them as a necessary cost-saving measure. Officials from Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

More than a dozen medical, nursing, social work and refugee organizations, including the Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Paediatric Society, Canadian Psychiatric Association and Canadian Nurses Association, have criticized the changes. They argue that most refugees live in poverty and cannot afford the fees, predicting declines in physical and mental health....