Canada faces calls to rescind planned cuts to refugee healthcare scheme

Health workers and rights advocates say co-payments, set to take effect on May 1, amount to 'de facto denial of care'.Published On 14 Apr 2026Toronto, Canada – Rallies have been held across Canada urging the government to reverse planned cuts to a healthcare programme for refugees and asylum seekers.Dozens of people demonstrated in Toronto on Tuesday as part of a national day of action against cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), which are set to come into effect on May 1. Critics say the curbs put vulnerable people at risk and will lead to higher costs down the line.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Canada’s Bill C-12 an ‘attack on refugee, migrant rights’: Advocateslist 2 of 3Beaten, left to die, robbed: Refugees tell of violence on Croatian borderlist 3 of 3In Ghana Town, a ‘stateless’ future for hundreds born and raised in Gambiaend of list“We want to make sure that we have a universal healthcare system, and we also don’t want a system that punches down against vulnerable people and migrants,” Dr Ritika Goel told Al Jazeera at the protest in downtown Toronto.“We want to support a system that provides care to everyone,” she said.The Canadian government announced in late January that it would be making changes to the IFHP, which provides basic health coverage to refugees, asylum claimants, and others not covered by other healthcare programmes in Canada.As of next month, people receiving IFHP coverage will have to pay $4 per eligible prescription medication, as well as 30 percent of the cost of supplemental services such as dental and vision care, and counselling.“Introducing co-payments for supplemental health products and services helps manage growing demand, keeping the IFHP sustainable over the long term,” a spokesperson for Canada" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="118713" data-entity-type="organization">Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told Al Jazeera in an email.“This approach will allow the government to continue supporting eligible beneficiaries while keeping the program fair and consistent with other publicly funded health insurance programs that provide supplemental benefits, including those available to many social assistance recipients.”Toronto-based family doctor Ritika Goel speaks during the rally in Toronto, Canada, on April 14, 2026 [Jillian Kestler-D’Amours/Al Jazeera]Major spending cutsWhile the new co-payments may appear modest, doctors and refugee rights advocates say they can be prohibitively expensive for newcomers struggling to rebuild their lives in Canada amid soaring costs.