Characterizing Canada's Refugee Healthcare System

Canada welcomed 226,006 refugees and protected persons between 2022 and 2024 (IRCC). Because healthcare is delivered provincially and territorially, a refugee's experience of the system can differ dramatically depending on where they settle. This study builds the first systematic picture of how refugee health services have been structured and delivered across Canada.

Duration: May 2019 – 31 March 2027

Research objectives

Map primary care, public health, settlement, and other healthcare services available to refugees from initial reception through longer-term accommodation.
Survey providers who served refugees during the Syrian Refugee Initiative through to the present.
Build the first systematic picture of how refugee healthcare services have been structured and delivered across Canada.

Research questions

How do Canadian health systems respond to sudden refugee arrivals?
How do care models differ from one municipality to the next?
How are immediate and urgent healthcare needs met, and how well do services work together within each municipality?
Who are the healthcare providers and professionals involved in caring for refugees?
How did COVID-19 impact healthcare providers, their patients, and the delivery of refugee health services — and what lasting changes, if any, did it bring about?

Study team

Principal Investigator: Dr. Gabriel Fabreau

Co-Investigators

Dr. Annalee Coakley

Dr. Neil Arya

Dr. Christine Aubrey-Bassler

Dr. Michael W. Aucoin

Dr. Mahli Brindamour

Sarah Clarke

Dr. William Ghali

Dr. Douglas Gruner

Dr. Françoise Guigne

Dr. Timothy Holland

Dr. Jia Hu

Dr. Myles Leslie

Dr. Kolten MacDonell

Dr. Kerry McBrien

Dr. Katrina Milaney

Dr. Stephanie Montesanti

Dr. Richard Musto

Dr. Lavanya Narasiah

Dr. Alka Patel

Dr. Kevin Pottie

Dr. Meb Rashid

Dr. Vanessa Redditt

Dr. Tara Sampalli

Dr. Rachel Talavlikar

Dr. Mei-ling Wiedmeyer

Dr. Tyler Williamson

Posters

Characterizing Canada's Refugee Healthcare System — Immunization Processes for Refugees. El-Shazly N, Coakley A, Arya N, Brindamour M, Holland T, Leslie M, Musto R, Narasiah L, Pottie K, Rashid M, Redditt V, Wiedmeyer M, Fabreau GE.Poster Presentation Award
2023 North American Refugee Health Conference · June 2023

Oral presentations

Rashid M, Fabreau GE, Narasiah L, Oliver A, Whalen-Browne M, Arya N, Wright V, Talavlikar R, Chirgwin J, Wiedmeyer M, Brindamour M, Hanson J. Canada's Refugee Health Clinics: structure, care models, strengths and challenges — Part 1.
North American Refugee Health Conference · June 2023
Rashid M, Fabreau GE, Narasiah L, Oliver A, Whalen-Browne M, Arya N, Wright V, Talavlikar R, Chirgwin J, Wiedmeyer M, Brindamour M, Hanson J. Canada's Refugee Health Clinics: structure, care models, strengths and challenges — Part 2.
North American Refugee Health Conference · June 2023
Fabreau G, Brindamour M, Beukeboom C, Narasiah L, Rashid M. Canada's Refugee Health Clinics Amidst COVID-19: structure, care models, strengths and challenges.
North American Refugee Health Conference (Virtual) · September 2021
El-Shazly, Hassan, Hussain, Norrie, Grewal, Arya, Aubrey-Bassler, Aucoin, Brindamour, Coakley, Holland, McBrien, Milaney, Narasiah, Pottie, Rashid, Redditt, Wiedmeyer, Musto, Fabreau. Characterizing Canada's Refugee Healthcare System Amidst a Global Migration Crisis.
North American Refugee Health Conference · June 2022