Unpacking the Mystery of the Ontario Healthcare System in Canada: Ukrainian Temporary Migrants and Healthcare System Navigation

<p dir="ltr">Background</p><p dir="ltr">In response to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Government of Canada welcomed thousands of temporary migrants under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program. Ukrainian temporary migrants who are settled in Ontario experience acute, chronic, and complex health issues, creating additional demand upon the healthcare system. Despite a collective awareness of difficulty in accessing existing healthcare resources, little is known about how Ukrainian temporary migrants experience and utilise the Ontario healthcare system.</p><p dir="ltr">Purpose</p><p dir="ltr">To explore the lived experiences of Ukrainian temporary migrants navigating the Ontario healthcare system, and to report on the results of a knowledge translation (KTr) workshop intervention delivered with this population to assist in the development of knowledge and skills related to healthcare system navigation.</p><p dir="ltr">Methods</p><p dir="ltr">A KTr workshop was delivered with ten Ukrainian temporary migrants who have temporarily settled in Toronto, Canada. Inductive and deductive thematic analysis was used.</p><p dir="ltr">Results</p><p dir="ltr">Four themes emerged: 1) concerns regarding accessibility and wait times; 2) difficulties navigating the healthcare system; 3) transnational health practices; and 4) a desire for increased involvement in the care plan.</p><p dir="ltr">Conclusions</p><p dir="ltr">This project highlights barriers to services and the need for healthcare providers to explore equitable and accessible solutions to support temporary migrants.</p>