Sensory Health and Universal Health Coverage in Canada-An Environmental Scan

Background/Objectives: The World Federation of the Deafblind Global Report 2023 reports that many countries do not have a comprehensive identification, assessment, and referral system for persons with deafblindness, a combination of hearing and vision loss, across all age groups and geographic regions. The scan seeks to inform researchers, policymakers, and community-based organizations about the status of and gaps in sensory healthcare initiatives in Canada, with the intent to raise awareness to enhance the integration and coordination of eye and ear care services. Methods: We conducted an environmental scan of Canada's healthcare system and current public health policies addressing vision and hearing care in Canada at the federal and provincial levels. The scan was conducted using published literature searches from five scientific databases-Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed, and CINAHL-in combination with the gray literature review of federal, provincial, and territorial governments and non-profit organizations' websites from April 2011-October 2022. Out of 1257 articles screened, 86 studies were included that met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. In total, 13 reports were included in the gray literature search, with 99 total articles used in the analysis. Results: The thematic findings indicate stigma and discrimination toward individuals with disabilities and marginalized communities (Indigenous people, rural communities, recent immigrants, people of older age, and people with disabilities), including hearing, vision, or dual sensory loss, persist. Barriers to vision and hearing healthcare access include inadequate policies, underinvestment in vision and/or hearing services, limited collaboration and coordinated services between hearing and vision services, discrepancies in insurance coverages, and lack of health system support. Conclusions: This scan demonstrates the persisting barriers to vision and/or hearing services present in Canada, stemming from inadequate policy and limited service coordination. Future work to address gaps, evaluate public education, and develop integrated sensory healthcare initiatives to enhance coordinated eye and ear care services, as recommended in the WHO Report on Hearing and Vision, is imperative.