Supporting Newcomers Through Pharmacy: Improving Health System Navigation and Safe, Sustainable Medication Use

On behalf of Network for Improving Health Systems (NIHS) and the Collaborative Centre for Climate, Health & Sustainable Care (CCCHSC)…

Navigating Canada’s healthcare system can be confusing for newcomers, especially when it comes to accessing care and medications. As a result, many bring medications from their home countries, which may go unreviewed by healthcare professionals and be used or disposed of in ways that pose health or environmental risks.

Co-hosted by the Network for Improving Health Systems (NIHS) and the Collaborative Centre for Climate, Health & Sustainable Care (CCCHSC), this event will showcase research by Yasmin Aboelzahab on healthcare challenges faced by newcomers to Canada and examine how pharmacists can play a key role in healthcare navigation and safe medication use. The session will share a virtual Health Service Orientation module that is being developed to offer culturally responsive education for newcomers to promote safe medication use and environmentally responsible practices. We’ll also hear from frontline pharmacists Tarek Hussein and Doret Cheng who are contributing to improving climate conscious healthcare access for newcomer populations.

Please note that we will have a graphic recorder joining us for the session to create a visual interpretation of the research and the experiences of our presenters.