The brief spell enjoyed by immigrants after BC extended temporary provincial health coverage under the Medical Services Plan (MSP) from July 31 to October 31 is drawing to a close.

The Health Minister, Adrian Dix, had announced that the province expanded the MSP to include those under implied status whose applications could not be processed due to outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government’s decision to extend the deadline came after an outcry among international students which culminated into a protest involving a recent graduate of the Royal Roads University, Karouko Sasaki, and two dozen other migrants under the same status gathering outside Dix’s constituency office demanding healthcare for all.

Another recent graduate from the University of Victoria, also under the implied status, who gave his name simply as Kenny, said he is ‘paralyzed by fear’ of falling sick after the October 31 deadline.

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``I am a recent graduate of UViC and I fall among those under implied status. My MSP coverage was extended till October 31 and I am paralyzed by fear of falling sick because the brief spell we enjoyed from July ends soon.

``I'm facing the risk of job loss, no medical insurance among other risks if there's no solution. We need help,’’ Kenny said.

Yetie