Refugee Access to Healthcare in Canada Health, Medicine Research Paper

Refugee Access to Healthcare in Canada
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Refugee Access to Healthcare in Canada
Introduction
In the past few years, the world has seen an increase in the number of refugees. The developed nations, especially countries in Europe, has seen a surge in the number of refugees seeking asylum in their countries. Canada and the United States have also seen an increase in the number of people crossing their borders in search of better lives. By 2016, the population of immigrants in Canada accounted for 22% of the Canadian population (Lu & Ng, 2019). The researchers continue to say that between 2018 and 2020, Canada is projected to have an additional one million immigrants within its borders. When immigrants arrive, they are expected to share the resources and services of the host country. Host countries are also called to answer whenever it is revealed that immigrants or refugees are maligned or are subjected to any discrimination. Canada, for example, is thus expected to ensure the protection and delivery of services to all immigrants and refugees in equal measure. Additionally, with regards to healthcare, Saberpor (2015) notes that “Canada’s obligation under International Law guarantees the right of every individual to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, which must be exercised without any discrimination.” So, upon receipt of refugees and immigrants, Canada is expected to ensure the protection and healthcare needs of immigrants are catered for. However, in spite of the above, there are numerous revelations that help to showcase that refugees have not been in receipt of apt healthcare because of the issue of language barrier. Language barrier is but one of the many barriers to the healthcare needs of refugees, but its contribution to refugees’ healthcare outcomes warrants scrutiny. As indicated before, Canada is obligated to offer equitable opportunities of healthcare to everyone within its borders including refugees. Any reports showcasing gaps in how the country caters to the healthcare needs of refugees could show the country acting against its obligation towards international law. So, this article seeks to examine how language barrier creates an equity issues with regards to refugees’ receipt of adequate care in Canada.
Background and context
The UN 1951 Convention defines a refugee as “someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.” So, all refugees are immigrants, but not all immigrants are refugees. Canada has been one of the countries that takes in more refugees than any other in the world. In 2018, for example, Canada “accepted just over 28,000 refugees,” and this number was more than that of the U.S. As some countries in the world continue to plunge into war, the world will continue to see an influx in the number of refugees. One thing that is evident and obvious in refugees is that they are a heterogeneous group. So, McKeary and Newbold (2010) write that “differences including origin, journey, health status before...