2013: Access to healthcare in Europe in times of crisis and rising xenophobia
“Those who are most vulnerable are becoming even more vulnerable, not only in terms of access to health care services, but also with regard to other determinants of health, including the degree of social exclusion, education, housing and general living conditions, quality of diet, vulnerability to violence”. 2012 has been marked by a social and economic crisis that has generated austerity measures which are having an impact on social protection schemes, including healthcare services. At the same time, rising unemployment and poverty across Europe have generated extreme right statements stigmatising migrants. We have noticed a rise in xenophobic acts and regulations in Greece and in other European countries. Another effect of the increase in poverty is a rise in internal migration. EU citizens who are destitute and have no health coverage are considered in the same way as undocumented migrants from outside the EU if they need medical care.