The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation says it will expand community health services with a new medical clinic set to open in Inuvik in 2027.
In a Wednesday news release, the IRC said the clinic will allow dental and physician services to operate under one roof and reduce the need for community members to travel outside the region for medical care.
“IRC has a history of stepping up to fill urgent gaps for our people and community, and today’s lack of reliable dental and primary care is nothing short of a crisis,” IRC chair Erwin Elias was quoted as saying.
He said establishing the clinic is “decisive action to bring care closer to home and make sure our people receive the quality health care they deserve, right here at home, when they need it most.”
The news release stated that a rotating team of dentists, physicians, hygienists, and dental therapists will provide services at the facility, though the service model is still under development.
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According to the IRC, funding for the clinic is provided by Indigenous Services Canada and Health Canada, while the GNWT helped facilitate collaboration among the partners.
The clinic is part of IRC’s broader efforta to address long-standing gaps in healthcare access across the Beaufort Delta region, where residents have faced limited availability of both routine dental care and consistent primary health services.
IRC said the clinic’s opening date will depend on factors such as facility readiness and the recruitment of health professionals.
