New to British Columbia?
Connect with organizations offering settlement support, healthcare navigation, language services, and community programs.
Learn moreAccessible health information for newcomers
Navigate healthcare in British Columbia with confidence.
Plain-language resources, multilingual education, and community workshops designed to help newcomers understand and use the healthcare system.
Educational information only. This website does not replace medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
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Health information for everyday needs
Explore practical guides created to make British Columbia’s healthcare system easier to understand.
Finding Healthcare
Learn how to find a family doctor, use urgent or walk-in care, and choose the right healthcare service.
Learn moreMedications
Learn about prescriptions, pharmacies, medication coverage, refills, and how pharmacists can help.
Learn moreHeart Health
Learn about blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease prevention, and important warning signs.
Learn moreMental Health
Find plain-language information about emotional well-being, counselling, and community support.
Learn moreFamily Health
Explore information about pregnancy, children’s health, vaccinations, checkups, and screening.
Learn moreHealth Coverage
Learn how MSP and other health coverage programs work and which services may be covered.
Learn moreCommunity education
Attend a health literacy workshop
Our workshops help newcomers ask informed questions, understand health services, and make confident decisions about their care.
Our mission
Making healthcare information easier to access
The Newcomer Health Literacy Initiative is a medical student-led project developed with community input. We create plain-language, culturally responsive, and multilingual resources that help newcomers understand healthcare services, ask informed questions, and make confident decisions about their care.
Project partnership and support
Developed with community support
This initiative is being developed with DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society as our community partner and with funding support from the Community-University Engagement Support Fund.
Community partner
DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society
Funding support
Community-University Engagement Support Fund
Student-led initiative
Created by medical students studying at UBC
Important information
The Newcomer Health Literacy Initiative is a student-led educational project. Information on this website is provided for general education only and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional.
Although this project is supported through the Community-University Engagement Support Fund and developed with DIVERSEcity as a community partner, its website content does not necessarily represent the views or official policies of DIVERSEcity, the University of British Columbia, or the UBC Faculty of Medicine.
In a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.