Healthcare
Good health is very important to all students in achieving their educational objectives. In addition to the usual pressures that all students face, international students face additional challenges such as language difficulties, change in climate, dietary differences and loneliness. These pressures, along with everyday factors such as proximity to others with common illnesses such as a “cold” or “flu,” may make you ill during your stay in Canada. If this should happen, you may require a visit to a doctor or other health professional.
Seeing a doctor in Canada for the first time can be a bit frightening for some international students. You may be unfamiliar with our health care system and how doctors treat illnesses. You will have your own sets of beliefs, customs and expectations about health care. The doctors and nurses at the Humboldt Clinic and Hospital are excellent doctors who enjoy their jobs. You can feel at ease with their knowledge and expertise.
Health Care System
Some international students come from countries where the health care system may include home remedies, traditional healers, and western medicine all operating together. In Canada the health care system is assumed to be primary, that is, Canadians go to a western-style provider and facilities. The doctor assumes that no other remedies are being tried for an illness. It is very important that you let the doctor know if you have used or are using folk remedies, other prescriptions or another type of treatment.
The western system of medicine does not always provide quick cures. Instructions about taking medication should be followed carefully. For example, strep throat symptoms may be gone within 24 hours but the infection is cured only after all prescribed medication has been taken. In Canada, a doctor may decide not to prescribe any medication for an illness, and to give advice only. Doctors seldom treat illnesses by giving injections.
Western medicine calls for the patient to give informed consent when in hospital, and when surgical treatment is required. This means that after the doctor has explained exactly what the surgery will entail and the risks involved, the patient is asked to sign a statement, which says that he/she understands what is going to be done and agrees to the treatment. International students should know that they may ask the doctor questions, complain or seek a second opinion from another doctor.
International students should let the doctor know what the symptoms of the illness they have mean in their own country and ask the doctor to clarify what he/she thinks about these symptoms.
In Canada nurses may do a lot of tasks that nurses in your home country do not perform, such as checking blood pressure, giving injections and taking the patient's medical history. Nurses are trained to do those tasks and it does not mean that you are receiving second-hand care.
International students may have purchased drugs legally at home and brought them to Canada (e.g. birth control pills, antibiotic, anti-malarial drugs). Here in Canada these same drugs can only be acquired if prescribed by a doctor. If you have such drugs, you should consult a doctor about their use.
Health Insurance
All residents of Saskatchewan receive hospital and medical insurance coverage at no charge. This insurance includes the cost of a bed in a public ward in the hospital and a doctor's fee. (Note: Doctors do have the right to charge extra fees above what the provincial insurance plan will pay, and some do). When you call for an appointment with a doctor you may inquire if he/she charges a fee above what the provincial government will pay. Prescription drugs are not covered by provincial health insurance.
International students who come to Canada directly from another country are eligible to receive coverage starting the day they arrive in Saskatchewan. To receive coverage you must apply to be registered with Saskatchewan Health. Application forms are available at the Front Office, or you can download it from Saskatchewan Health.
When you apply to register for health insurance, you must have your passport and student authorization with you and will be required to indicate your Canadian address. You will receive a form within one week, which you must have signed by The Finance Officerl to provide proof of University registration and must then return to Saskatchewan Health. Three to four weeks later, you will receive your Health Services Card, valid to a maximum of one year.
If you move during your stay in Saskatchewan, you must advise Saskatchewan Health of any changes of address. Your Saskatchewan Health card must be presented when going to a doctor or hospital for treatment. Please remember to renew your Health Services Card at least one month prior to its expiry date to ensure that you are covered the entire time you are in Saskatchewan.
International students who come to Saskatchewan from another province in Canada are not eligible for Saskatchewan Health insurance for three months. Some provinces will provide coverage for the first three months the student is in Saskatchewan, whereas others will not. Students who are not covered should purchase private insurance.
If you require additional private insurance, consult the Yellow Pages in the phone book for insurance agents or ask the ISO for recommendations. For further information, consult your local pharmacist and obtain a copy of the brochure "It's for Your Benefit," made available by Saskatchewan Health.
Please note…
Saskatchewan Health insurance does not cover the cost of dental care, seeing an optometrist, prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses, or ambulance service unless requested by a physician.
Emergency Contacts
In an emergency, call:
- Emergency Fire/ Police/ Ambulance – 911
- Emergency St. Peter’s College Security Services – 682-1775
