International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – which is March 21 – reminds us that racism is not a distant or abstract concept in Saskatchewan, according to Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka.

“Racism exists within our own medical community, including our health care system,” said Dr. Ndubuka, the Saskatchewan Medical Association’s (SMA) Physician Advocate, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). “By working together with health professionals, institutions, and the general public, we can help build a more equitable health system and health care community across Saskatchewan.”

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1966 to remember the 1960 Sharpeville massacre in South Africa, where police killed 69 people during a peaceful protest against apartheid laws. The day encourages worldwide action to combat racism, racial discrimination, and intolerance.

Dr. Ndubuka is Medical Health Officer with Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority in Prince Albert, He is a former SMA board member, past-president of the Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists, and current president of Black Physicians of Canada. He shares his thoughts on initiatives taken by the SMA to advance EDI work and eliminate racism in medicine.

• “Eliminating racism from medicine will remove deep-seated health disparities to help improve patient outcomes and ensure that there is equitable care. That is what we really need to do to make our health system a better place. Eliminating racism is a vital, life-saving measure to address mistrust and safety issues that continue to exist in our medical community.”

Racism in Medicine survey

Dr. Ndubuka noted the joint SMA/College of Physician and Surgeons of Saskatchewan Racism in Medicine survey, which was conducted in 2023 and released in 2024, showed that one in two physicians or medical learners experienced racism during their career or training.

The survey highlighted that racism is a widespread concern among health care professionals at all levels and in various settings, from hospitals to clinics. It occurs across a broad range of interactions, involving patients, peers, and leadership, affecting individuals regardless of their ethnicity, licensure, or tenure. The findings suggest the need for systemic changes to address racism and discrimination within the health care environment. A follow-up survey is planned.

• “Racism affects not only health care professionals but also the patients themselves in terms of the safety, and the quality of care delivered to them. As we commemorate International Day of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, it’s a moment for all of us to pause, to reflect, and again commit to action.”

   

• “We look forward to a second survey and hope our members will participate and share their thoughts so we can understand what progress has been made and where we still have gaps.”

Physician Health Program and WorkPlace Wellbeing team

The SMA’s Physician Health Program assists physicians, medical learners, and their families who may be in distress. The program provides assessment and treatment, education, counselling and coaching, monitoring, and advocacy.

The SMA’s Workplace Wellbeing team supports SMA members who need assistance in responding to complaints, disciplinary proceedings, audits by external organizations, and who need support to resolve issues in the workplace. 

• “These wrap-around resources provided by the SMA have been very helpful in supporting physician members, including those who might be experiencing discrimination or might be witnessing discrimination. The Racism in Medicine survey showed that these experiences had both emotional and physical impacts on respondents. We have received positive feedback from SMA members who have reported that the resources have helped them to cope in these situations.”

Physicians for the Future: Anti-Racism Training for Physicians

The SMA’s EDI team worked with the Division of Social Accountability, College of Medicine, USask, on the Physicians for the Future: Anti-Racism Training for Physicians course. The SMA has funded spots for members.

• “We hope the course helps family physicians, specialists, residents, medical students, and health staff understand the basics of racism and its concepts, making them feel that their role in addressing these issues is vital and appreciated. We also aim to show how they can recognize how racism exists and take practical steps, inspiring confidence in their ability to make a difference. Most importantly, we hope the course shows them how they can become better allies, empowering their commitment to equity.”

EDI CME Reimbursement Program

The Continuing Medical Education (CME) Reimbursement Program reimburses physicians for the costs associated with EDI-specific CME courses and reference materials. 

• “The program has enabled colleagues to engage in additional learning opportunities and gain more understanding on how to advance health equity, and make the health care system a better place, with culturally safe practices.”

EDI Complaints Reporting Tool

The EDI Complaints Reporting Tool is a confidential pathway in which physicians can file a written statement to the SMA regarding a personal experience of racism, discrimination, harassment, and/or reprisal. An EDI team member will follow up with the complaint.

• “Physicians who experience discrimination tend to just take it as is, and they suffer in silence. There are no confidential reporting pathways for them to report their experience. Our team developed specific tools that individuals can use to report EDI issues either as complainants or witnesses to an act of discrimination.”

   

• “While the SMA is not a regulatory body and cannot reprimand, our team plays a crucial role in mediating issues that often arise between members. We take pride in educating and guiding members to learn and unlearn biases, which makes a real difference. The team has been doing very well in taking that approach to address some of the concerns that we’ve received.”

Anti-Racism Action Plan

• “We started as an EDI Committee by focusing on racism, recognizing that other facets within equity, diversity, and inclusion also needed attention, particularly truth and reconciliation, gender inequity, pay gaps, and other forms of discrimination. We are currently working to expand our scope of work at the community level, working to tackle Indigenous-specific racism in health care. Discussions are ongoing to develop a reconciliation action plan as it relates to EDI.”

The EDI Committee’s Anti-Racism Action Plan has been reviewed by the SMA board and national partners such as the Indigenous Physician Association of Canada and Black Physicians of Canada.

• “It was a proud moment for me to hear some of the feedback from our partners across the country. They recognized the SMA as an organization that is at the forefront in EDI work. The SMA has done an amazing job in leading initiatives, and not just from an external perspective, but internally, looking at its own operations to ensure processes are implemented through an EDI lens.”