Patients

Indigenous people face worse health outcomes and barriers to accessing healthcare. Many have unmet healthcare needs. Indigenous people also report experiencing unfair treatment, racism or discrimination from healthcare professionals. Knowing your rights as a patient can help.

Some steps have been taken by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), responsible for delivering health services in Saskatchewan, to work with Indigenous Peoples to address this.

There have been some policy changes. An example is the change to the SHA policy that requires an Indigenous person’s consent before cutting their hair. This was a response to incidents of Indigenous peoples’ hair being cut off without their consent while in the hospital.

All patients have the right to:

• access hospital and physician services, regardless of ability to pay
• safe and proper care
• give or refuse consent for any procedure, and for any reason
• have health problems and treatment options explained in an understandable way
• not be discriminated against based on a protected ground such as race or sexual orientation
• privacy for their health records
• access to their health records

There are exceptions to these rights. Some medical care is not free. There are situations when you can be treated without your consent. Your medical records can be shared without your consent in some cases and you can be refused access to your medical records in some cases. These are discussed in more detail below.

Most medically necessary doctor and hospital services are covered. This includes most visits to a doctor’s office or emergency room, x-rays, blood work, surgery and hospital stays. If you are registered as an Indian under the Indian Act the Non-Insured Health Benefit program (NIHB) also covers:

• dental benefits
• eye exams and glasses
• prescriptions
• mental health counselling
• medical supplies and equipment
• transportation for medical appointments

If you are not covered under the NIHB program, help may still be available: 

• for prescription costs depending on the situation
• if something like counselling or physiotherapy is provided through a hospital or community clinic
• through supplementary health benefits if you are receiving income support or disability payments 

Yes. You must agree to medical care before you are treated. You must be able to understand what you are agreeing to, you must not be forced into agreeing and your judgment must not be clouded by drugs, alcohol or medication.

Yes, in some cases. Including: 

• emergency situations where you are unable to consent
• when you cannot consent due to mental illness
• where certain infectious diseases are involved

For most mental healthcare you need to consent just like any other treatment. In some rare cases you can be examined by a psychiatrist without your consent or be held in a mental health centre for up to 21 days. There are strict requirements that must be met before these things can be done and a process to appeal.

In the case of some serious infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, you must take treatment and provide information about who you had contact with that may have been exposed to the disease.

You have a right to privacy of your medical records but there are exceptions. Your medical records can be shared as needed for you to receive the treatment or services you have requested and in some other limited circumstances.

You have the right to see and get copies of your own medical records. A reasonable fee can be charged for this. There are some limited circumstances where your access may be denied (such as where access could risk your safety or that of another person or where access would interfere with a lawful investigation).

You have the right to complain if you have been treated poorly or discriminated against by a healthcare provider. You can: 

• talk to the healthcare provider, their supervisor or the head of the healthcare facility
• contact a Quality Care or Surgical Care Coordinator for your area who can help you resolve complaints and make sure you know your rights and options
• contact the professional body of the healthcare provider (such as College of Physicians and Surgeons for doctors or College of Registered Nurses for nurses)
• make a complaint to the Ombudsman for Saskatchewan
• contact the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission if you have faced discrimination by a healthcare provider  
• contact police if you have been treated without your agreement or abused by a healthcare provider

For more information about about healthcare treatment and the rights and responsibilities of patients and healthcare providers visit the Health section of plea.org or order PLEA’s booklet Patients' Rights free of charge by visiting plea.org.

College of Physicians and Surgeons
Regulatory body for the medical profession in the province of Saskatchewan. Receives complaints from patients who are dissatisfied with the care received from a doctor.
Toll-free: 1.800.667.1668 (Complaints)
Phone: 306.244.7355

College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan
Licensing and governing body for Registered Nurses in the province. Receives complaints from patients dissatisfied with care received from a registered nurse.
Toll-free: 1.800.667.9945
Phone: 306.359.4200

First Nations and Métis Health Services (Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert and Broadview)
Provides support to patients from Indigenous communities at hospitals in these locations.

Healthline 811
Free, 24-hour, confidential health advice telephone line.
Phone: 811

Hope for Wellness Helpline
Provides immediate, 24/7 mental health and emotional support from Indigenous counsellors.
Phone: 1.855.242.3310

Maternal Care Centre (Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Saskatoon) 
Offers First Nations, Métis and Inuit women an Indigenous Birth Support Worker.

MedSask
Provides information and advice on prescription, over the counter, and herbal medications.
Toll-free: 1.800.665.3784
Phone: 306.966.6378

Mental Health and Addictions Branch 
Provides information about mental health and addiction services that are available in Saskatchewan.
Phone: 306.787.3297
Email: MHAB@health.gov.sk.ca

Office of the Privacy Commissioner Saskatchewan 
Can answer general questions about your right to privacy and access to your health records and deal with complaints about privacy or access. You can call, email or book an in-person appointment.
Toll-free: 1.877.748.2298
Phone: 306.787.8350
Email: intake@oipc.sk.ca

Quality of Care Coordinators
These are sometimes called Client Concern Specialists, Client Representatives or Patient Advocates. They investigate and try to resolve concerns about the quality of healthcare provided.
Phone: 306.787.3764
Email: info@health.gov.sk.ca

Saskatchewan Health Authority 
Is responsible for the delivery of healthcare across the province.