Waterloo MPP Fife calls on Health Minister to address gap in funding for medical interpreters

Waterloo MPP and NDP finance critic Catherine Fife has called on Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones to help address a funding gap in medical interpreters.

In a letter from January 5, Fife said if additional funding needs are not met, an estimated 2000-3000 appointments will not have interpretation services for patients. The need for service has increased over the last few years due to the increase in immigration to the region.

Funding for groups who provide the service, like the KW Multicultural Centre and the Kitchener Centre for Family Medicine, is set to expire at the end of the fiscal year.

Fife said the lack of funding decrease quality of care for immigrants and refugees in the region and could lead to higher costs on the health care system.

“If you don’t have that communication factor, you may be ordering additional tests – there could be miscommunication about a diagnosis and extended hospital stays,” said Fife.

She said the Ontario government has $5.4 billion in unallocated contingency funds that could address the gap.

Hannah Jensen, a spokesperson on behalf of the Ministry of Health, gave the following statement on Fife’s letter:

“The Ministry of Health and Ontario Health recognize the importance of the interpreter/translation services provided through the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and will continue to fund these services. Base funding of $150,000 from the Ministry of Health was secured for 2022-23, this funding is the same amount that has been allocated to the municipality for these services since 2020-21. This amount will flow to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo annually for the provision of interpreter/translation services.”