Utilization of ontario health care services by southeast asian refugees

Despite claims that southeast Asian refugees might swamp the health care system, a sample of 135 refugee patients in the Kingston, ON., area showed no significant difference in utilization rates from a control group-after the first six months. Before that time, refugees' utilization rates were significantly higher. During the first six months the commonest diagnosis for refugees was parasitic disease; for controls, upper respiratory infection. After that time, refugees' illness patterns matched those of controls. These findings suggest that sudden free access to western medical care does not establish a longterm pattern of high utilization.