Health workers march against refugee health care cuts

Around 80 to 90 health care workers and concerned citizens met today in Kiwanis Park and marched across the University Bridge tothe Royal University Hospitalto protestrefugee health care cuts.

They joined health care professionals in 19 cities from over 20 health care organizations across Canada that held demonstrations today.

Mahli Brindamour is a physician working for the Immigrant and Refugee Health Committee at the University of Saskatchewan'sCollege of Medicine.

"There are children with fever that might have malaria, a dangerous blood infection, that are refused at hospital doors because they can't pay for health care," explained Brindamour.

Brindamour organized the Saskatoon march because she believes the federal government's cuts put the lives of vulnerable refugees at risk.

"There are pregnant women that don't receive the care they need because they can't pay for it. There are cancer patients that are refused chemotherapy. They might die because of lack of treatment," said Brindamour.

The Saskatoon marchwas a part of the Canadian Doctors for Refugee Caressecond National Day of Action. Their aim is to put pressure on the federal government to reverse the cuts to refugee health care.

Ayear ago the government made changes to the Interim Federal Health Program that left refugee patients without comprehensive health care coverage.