On October 13, 2026, participants joined a bilingual online discussion to share experiences, identify barriers to healthcare, and propose practical improvements.
The Environmental Health Association of Canada (EHAC–ASEC) and the Environmental Health Association of Québec (ASEQ–EHAQ) are pleased to release a new community consultation report examining healthcare accessibility for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
A central message emerged: healthcare accessibility should not depend on patients repeatedly requesting accommodations or negotiating exposure prevention with individual healthcare providers.
Key Findings
Participants highlighted several priorities:
- Environmental accessibility: Reduce avoidable exposures to fragranced products and other chemical sources throughout healthcare settings.
- Effective policies: Ensure fragrance-free policies are implemented, monitored, and maintained.
- Institutional accountability: Engage healthcare leadership, procurement, environmental services, and facilities management.
- Education and training: Improve awareness of MCS and accommodation responsibilities among healthcare personnel.
- Accessible care options: Provide virtual consultations and alternative arrangements when clinically appropriate.
- Patient involvement: Include people with MCS in developing and evaluating accessibility measures.
The report also highlights examples of successful accommodations and identifies six recommendations for improving healthcare accessibility.
Moving Forward
The findings will inform EHAC–ASEC and ASEQ–EHAQ’s ongoing advocacy, engagement with healthcare institutions, and collaboration with healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers and disability organizations.
Our goal is to advance practical, evidence-informed solutions that improve healthcare accessibility for people with MCS across Canada.
Healthcare accessibility must be embedded in institutional policies and everyday practices — not depend solely on individual accommodation requests.
This report summarizes a voluntary community consultation. It is not a representative survey or peer-reviewed research study.