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Access Issues in Indigenous & Remote Communities in Canada
Indigenous communities face many hurdles in Canada, and there is a long history of our politicians neglecting the needs of these communities.
Current project ideas we are exploring:
– Medication shortages: medication shortages such as shortages of Ozempic (semaglutide), used to treat type 2 diabetes, are being felt in various communities in Canada and they are disproportionately affecting more remote indigenous communities, from Sipekne’katik & Mi’kmaq communities in Eastern Canada, to communities in the N.W. Territories. We intend to look into the systems currently used to acquire and deliver important medications to remote communities.
– Culturally sensitive tele-mental health program: while current telehealth systems are in place with this purpose, it will be important to determine their practicality and whether individuals are able to access them with ease. We intend to identify barriers to accessing these programs and eventually work with these programs and communities to streamline the process and fund improved access.
– Toxic drugs crisis: disproportionately impacting indigenous communities in Canada. Recent statements from the BC First Nations Justice Council & the Union of BC Indian Chiefs suggest a serious problem. The drug/overdose crisis is worsened due to lack of support services, culturally appropriate treatment and recovery centres, and housing.
Sanctions in Iran Impacting Health Sector & Medication Availability
Political tensions and the right to healthcare should remain separate. Many patients in Iran are currently struggling due to lack of medications and treatments for their diseases.
Currently, the patients most affected by medication shortages include patients with thalassemia, hemophilia, cancer, epilepsy, epidermolysis bullosa (butterfly syndrome), and multiple sclerosis.
As a result of sanctions that have
been imposed on Iran, not only are many Western pharmaceutical companies hesitant to deliver medications to Iran, but the sanctions have also hindered Iranian medical companies’ ability to acquire the raw materials needed to produce
pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.
A humble estimate of the number of patients affected is 6-10 million according to Public Health research in Iran.
As a result of the shortage, critical medications are too expensive and put financial strain on patients who cannot afford them. We intend to work with some organizations abroad that are acting as advocates for these patients through funding and other means.
Our most immediate project will be to work with the Iran Thalassemia Society on strategies to improve awareness and access.
Impact of Sanctions on Venezuelan Healthcare
Similar to the situation in Iran, economic sanctions on Venezuela have had severe indirect impacts on the medical sector.
There is an excellent report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington D.C. entitled “Economic Sanctions as Collective Punishment: The Case of Venezuela” (2019), that details how economic sanctions against Venezuela have had significant impact on the civilian population, contributing to increased disease and mortality.
Estimates include 300,000 people at risk due to lack of medical treatment (including 16,000 who have limited access to dialysis, 16,000 with limited access to cancer treatment, and 80,000 with limited access to HIV treatment). Exploring the nature of sanctions and why they impact healthcare even though this is not their intended effect, will be one of the foci of our future work at JHF.