Canada is preparing to offer free healthcare to refugees on its soil, announces the Minister of Immigration.
In Canada, refugees will be able to benefit from free health care. On Thursday, the Canadian government announced the re-establishment of a free health care program for all refugees and asylum seekers, said the Minister of Immigration.
This program covers hospital and medical care, prescription drugs, as well as vision and dental care, at an estimated cost of 5.9 million Canadian dollars (3.9 million euros).
A partially dismantled program
The measure will be applied in its entirety from April 1. It had been partly dismantled in 2012, by the previous administration. The Conservative government then excluded rejected asylum seekers from this program, as well as those who appealed their case.
In 2014, the Federal Court ruled unconstitutional these exclusions, ruling that they constituted “cruel and unusual” treatment within the meaning of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The previous government appealed this decision, but the appeal was dropped last December by the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau.
As of April 1, 2017, the government will also pay for the medical examination and vaccines that all refugees selected by Canada must receive before leaving abroad. This measure, which already benefits Syrian refugees arriving in Canada, will cost an additional $ 5.6 million.
.
