In an effort to address inequities in healthcare, a group of experts is recommending that all Canadian jurisdictions regularly collect data on racial and Indigenous identity during the health card application or renewal process. Dr. Andrew Pinto, the lead author of a commentary published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, emphasizes that Black and Indigenous patients often face barriers to care and experience worse outcomes. By allowing patients to voluntarily provide identity data, it can help to track instances of racism in the healthcare system and monitor progress in addressing stereotypes that result in poorer care.
Dr. Pinto, who is also the founder of the non-profit Upstream Lab, believes that this data collection would create a foundation for narrowing the gaps in healthcare and developing tailored programs and services. He notes that Canada currently lacks this crucial data.
Racialized communities, which have higher rates of certain chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer, have been calling for race-based data to gain insights into contributing factors such as poverty. Nova Scotia became the first province to start collecting race-based data last fall, with residents providing the information when they register for a provincial health card or renew it every four years.
The commentary suggests a standardized and consistent approach to data collection, rather than repeatedly asking for it each time patients seek healthcare. It also emphasizes the importance of asking about race and Indigenous identity in a safe and transparent manner, providing anti-racism training to data collectors, and ensuring that the information is not used to perpetuate racism and discrimination. The authors propose that race and Indigenous identity should not be visible on patients’ health cards.
Manitoba has also started collecting data on race, ethnicity, and Indigenous identity, considering it the quickest and most effective way of obtaining the data. The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) provides guidance on standards for race-based and Indigenous identity data collection, emphasizing the need for data governance agreements with Indigenous groups and culturally safe approaches.
British Columbia has been urged to collect race-based data following multiple overdose deaths of young South Asians. Currently, the province does not collect data on race to inform interventions in communities that may face stigma in relation to drug use. Kulpreet Singh, founder of the South Asian Mental Health Alliance, emphasizes the importance of data in addressing health issues and argues that the government should be able to use data to inform its actions.
In conclusion, the experts highlight that collecting data on racial and Indigenous identity is crucial for addressing healthcare inequities. They believe that the benefits of collecting this data far outweigh the potential harms and emphasize the need for a standardized and transparent approach.
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