Will I have access to health care services while I am in prison?
The CSC must provide essential services. It will provide screening, referral, and treatment under the following categories of care:
CSC considers these to be essential services. Registered or licensed health care professionals will provide all services, and these services must be available on a 24-hour basis.109
Other services that correspond to “community practices”110 may also be available to you. If, for example, you are addicted to heroin, you may qualify for Methadone treatment.111
Who pays for my health care expenses?
If you are in a federal prison, or are a federal prisoner in a provincial jail, the CSC pays for all health care expenses outlined above. If you are on a conditional release and live in a half-way house, health care expenses are covered by provincial health care plans.112 If you are unemployed, have no source of income, and are ineligible for government or community support,113 the CSC will cover non-insured health care expenses. If you are on conditional release, CSC will pay for non-insured mental health expenses, as stipulated by the NPB or the Correctional Plan.114
How do I obtain health care services?
You can make confidential requests for health care services,115 and any staff member observing apparent illness has an obligation to report it to health care professional, whether or not you complain.116
Return to note 108. Correctional Service Canada, Commissioner’s Directive No. 800, “Health Services” dated September 30, 2004, s. 4 [CD 800].
Return to note 109. CD 800, s. 8.
Return to note 110. CD 800, s. 1.
Return to note 111. Correctional Service Canada, Commissioner’s Directive No. 800-1, “Methadone Treatment Guidelines” dated May 2, 2002
Return to note 112. CD 800, s. 52.
Return to note 113. CD 800, s. 54.
Return to note 114. CD 800, s. 55.
Return to note 115. CD 800, s. 10.
Return to note 116. CD 800, s. 9.