This is the first time that the Canadian branch of the Swiss pharmaceutical multinational, headquartered in Montreal, is launching this initiative. An amount of US$500,000 has been reserved for the selected ideas. The aim is to improve access to the healthcare network for marginalized groups.

“We know that even in a public system, there are populations that do not have the same opportunities and access to health care as others. (…) We know that there are disparities among certain populations. When we look at the data, they are found across Canada, not just in Quebec, but in other provinces as well,” said Shari Fraser, Head of Patient Engagement at Novartis Canada, in an interview.

The pharmaceutical company has identified three key areas to address certain existing health inequalities: social and cultural inclusivity of care; health culture and education; and health support for newly arrived immigrants in Canada.

“We know that inequality is a very big area, but we believe that with these three areas we can support some important projects,” Ms Fraser said.

Among the groups that have more difficulty accessing a regular health care provider such as a doctor or nurse, Statistics Canada has identified Indigenous peoples, people of sexual diversity, less affluent people and people from racialized communities.

According to Statistics Canada, in 2021, 81.2% of the Indigenous population had access to a care service, compared to 85.7% of the non-Indigenous population. The same is true for immigrants, with the percentage of access to a care provider varying between 71.7% and 89.8% depending on origin.

“Some new immigrants may experience a decline in their quality of health after arriving in Canada. We have seen from the data that this may be partly due to a lack of culturally appropriate information and services,” stressed Ms. Fraser.

“New immigrants to Canada may also face health equity issues due to language barriers, cultural differences and lack of familiarity with the system. All of these prevent access to and opportunity for quality health.”

Inequality is also evident in terms of income. Statistics Canada reported that people in the highest income quintile were more likely to report having a usual health care provider (88.0%) than those in the lowest income quintile (81.5%).

All Canadian provinces and territories are eligible for the Novartis project call, but only nonprofit and community organizations registered in Canada can participate. The amount allocated per initiative depends on the type of project and the number of ideas selected.

Organizations can submit their project online at novartis.com/ca-fr/ and have until September 15 to participate.