An Ottawa-based doctor gives top marks to two “phenomenal” clinics in Centretown that he says could serve as a model for the rest of the country.
Dr. Doug Gruner, co-ordinator of the Champlain Immigrant Health Network, says although he is pleased with the short-term success of health clinics for new immigrants at both the Somerset West Community Health Centre and at the Centretown Community Health Centre, more needs to be done locally and nationally.
“The big stumbling block is funding. What we need is commitment from all levels of government to create a situation in Ottawa where a refugee client can access our health-care system in an effective way,” he says.
According to Dr. Gruner, Ottawa receives about 8,000 new immigrants per year and about 2,000 of those are refugees. Of those refugees, only about 500 are government-assisted.
But Stéphane Shank of Health Canada says the government may not have had the opportunity to respond to lobbying efforts.
Besides his concern regarding funding, Dr. Gruner says the biggest issue surrounding new immigrants in search of health care is getting adjusted to the Canadian system of preventive care.
“We have a great health-care system, but if you don’t speak the language, or if you’re coming from a culture where you only see a doctor if you’re deathly ill, the idea to see a doctor for preventative [care] is a foreign concept.”
The Somerset West Community Health Centre offers a range of health services and programs for newcomer and immigrant populations.
Jack McCarthy, the centre’s executive director, says more community health centres should adopt new immigrant services.
“We’re adapting our service delivery patterns so then we can provide the best possible health care to the different populations, different communities. That’s what we do and that’s the beauty of the community health care model,” says McCarthy.
Dr. Gruner says that a lot of the success has been based on the goodwill of individuals at various community health centres.
"Somerset West has been phenomenal as far as supporting the network and the ideas around the network.
“[At] Centretown, the [doctors] as well as the nurses have been receptive,” he says.
Dr. Gruner is hopeful that the rest of Canada will follow in Ottawa’s footsteps with regards to the issue of immigrant and refugee medical clinics, thanks to a precedent already set in Calgary.
“Citizen and Immigration Canada have provided some funding for the clinic out there. ”