Healthcare of Indigenous Peoples in Canada Essay Example

A world with clean, universal healthcare; a world with equitable care for all people, is simply unimaginable. As one of the most cherished healthcare systems in the world, many think that Canada's healthcare is clean and equitable to all. This is not the case. In the course of Canada’s history, Indigenous people have been oppressed, stereotyped and discriminated against. Although many steps have been taken to reduce the gap found in Indigenous health care, such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 2015 Final Report, there is still not much progress shown. This oppression of Indigenous people has led to reduced access to healthcare, leading to barriers coming in the way of accessing adequate care. A combination of these barriers and the increasing gap in healthcare made it so that Indigenous people had very few opportunities to have representation in healthcare. Therefore, in order to address the health inequalities Indigenous people face, the government should sermonize the social determinants of Indigenous people’s health, increase Indigenous representation in healthcare, and educate healthcare workers to understand Indigenous traditional medicine.

Action to address health inequalities lies within addressing the social determinants of Indigenous peoples’ health. A significant determinant contributing to Indigenous health inequalities is their physical environments. Prior to colonization, Indigenous people planned their communities in the best way possible for them to thrive. However, as a result of colonization, it changed the way that the Indigenous people lived and exposed them to disease as well as worsening conditions. Donnie Mckay, a local councilor for the Cross Lake Cree community in Manitoba states that the community is only served by two doctors on Monday and Friday, 450 miles away. Other officials report that the nearest pediatrician’s office is three hours away, and the nearest hospital is eight hours away  (“Wave of Indigenous Suicides Leaves Canadian Town Appealing for Help (Published 2016)”). By not having access to healthcare facilities, Indigenous people are more susceptible to long-term, intensifying health diseases in the general population. This is where action lies. If the government can make hospitals and healthcare services more accessible to Indigenous people, it will allow them to get access to more fair, equitable care. Apart from physical environments, education is another underlying issue that causes inequalities in healthcare. Only 11.3% of the Indigenous population in Canada have a university degree, and almost 50% of Indigenous peoples living on reserves do not even have a high school degree (Cfsontario.ca Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario). Many Indigenous communities face health barriers and cannot afford to make healthy decisions for themselves, lowering their standards of living. By addressing the inequalities of education among Indigenous communities, it will permit opportunities to cultivate decisions that are in the best interest of their health. Thus, addressing the physical conditions Indigenous communities face, in addition to improving healthcare and education access will contribute to reducing the healthcare gap.

Another major cause of Indigenous inequalities in healthcare is because there is not enough Indigenous representation in healthcare. Since Indigenous communities are typically excluded by society, it is important to establish strong cultural relationships between the community and healthcare providers. The Health Council of Canada states that “Many aboriginal people don't trust –and therefore don't use- mainstream health care services because they don't feel safe from stereotyping and racism, and because the western approach to health care can feel alienating and intimidating" (Government of Canada). If the number of Indigenous health professionals was to increase, it would allow for more attention to the needs of Indigenous citizens. Doing so establishes a cultural bridge between the health professional and the patient, which results in increased trust to the healthcare providers, helping to close the gaps in Indigenous health care. Increasing Indigenous representation will not only be beneficial in ensuring a cultural connection, but it will also help to ensure that rural Indigenous communities have better access to healthcare. Processes like this have already been implemented into a few Canadian medical schools, with some reserving several seats exclusive to Indigenous people. Doing so allows for more representation in rural communities as most applicants have 40.4% to 49.5% probability of practicing in their region they grew up in (Pretorius et al.). This allows Indigenous applicants who are underrepresented in rural areas to become involved in the healthcare field, and be voices for their people in the rural Indigenous communities. This can establish better connections between the government and rural Indigenous communities, and help devise ways to improve their healthcare. Hence, constructing a cultural relationship between patients and physicians ensures rural Indigenous communities have access to healthcare, which helps alleviate gaps found in Indigenous helathcare.

In order to effectively work with Indigenous people, healthcare providers should understand their cultures and backgrounds. Educating healthcare workers to understand Indigenous traditional medicine is crucial to providing holistic, and self-sustaining healthcare for all. The World Trade Organization stated “traditional medicine contributes significantly to the health status of many communities and is increasingly used within certain communities in developed countries. Appropriate recognition of traditional medicine is an important element of national health policy” (Redvers and Blondin). By educating healthcare workers to understand the uses of traditional medicine, they can connect the policy of traditional medicine to the revolutionized Western medicine, providing the best care for Indigenous people. Undoubtedly, this would make Indigenous people more inclined to trust doctors and healthcare workers as they will be able to better understand their uses of medicine. Alternatively, educating healthcare workers about Indigenous traditional medicine will also lead to better coordination of healthcare. The University of New Mexico Public Health and General Medicine Program introduced the addition of traditional healing practices used in Indigenous communities to their curriculum. At the end of the program, many students agreed with the statement “I feel that not knowing about Traditional Healing Practices in use by patients could result in adverse outcomes due to interactions of conventional medical treatment and substances” (Kesler et al.). As such, learning about Indigenous traditional medicine shows its impact and value as it allows for better coordination of healthcare. Likewise, it leads to better organization of patient care, communication of information between patients, and meeting the patients needs, all important aspects to improving health inequalities. As a result of educating healthcare workers about Indigenous traditional medicine, it ensures that the healthcare system possesses a holistic approach to healthcare, and allows for better coordination of Indigenous healthcare.

Therefore, taking action on social determinants Indigenous people face, increasing Indigenous representation in healthcare, and educating healthcare workers about Indigenous traditional medicine are three effective steps the government should take to close the gaps in Indigenous healthcare. Addressing key factors such as physical environments and education is crucial for Indigenous communities to thrive. This will open opportunities to become involved in the healthcare system and focus on Indigenous health concerns, which establishes an open-minded perspective on how the healthcare system can be equitable for Indigenous communities. Despite Canada’s healthcare often providing the best care for their patients, there is still so much they can do to provide better healthcare to their cherished Indigenous population. In order to ensure that the government does not ignore these inequalities faced by Indigenous people, Canadian societies should take action, as small actions taken now have big implications for the future.