MdM published the second report of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies two years after the first European research.
This report is based on 1,218 interviews conducted in 11 European countries. It contains original testimonies on living conditions, on health status and access to health care for the poorest, the most marginalized and discriminated people in Europe, esoecially for immigrants without official documents (without formal legal status ).
Undocumented immigrants include one of the most vulnerable groups that of pregnant women and the children. One wonders if survival within Europe is considered a crime!
In 2010, Doctors of The World will complete and publish a comparative study of the laws of ten European countries regarding access to health care for immigrants without official documents and asylum seekers. This study determined that the right to health for undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers is nor a reality, or a fact within the European Union. It is impossible for an undocumented immigrant in any of these countries to reach the “highest attainable standard of physical and mental health” as defined by numerous human rights organizations.
Main Observations: Incoming immigrants to Europe do not intend to take advantage of the health care system. They live under uncertain conditions and seriously lack access to health care.
• They have been abused before, during and after the migration. They live and work under harsh conditions. Therefore their health status is dramatically affected.
• Numerous barriers hinder their access to health care, preventative medical care and insurance. Restrictive laws, lack of information, matters of administration, and discriminatory practices are created by these obstacles.
• Consequently, their access to health care is at best insufficient. For 72% of the health problems they deal with, they received either inadequate or no medical care.
• Even the most vulnerable groups, that include pregnant women and children, do not receive special treatment or easier access to health care. Less than 1 in 2 women (48%) has access to reproductive health care.
Access to health care may be uneven between European countries, but it is certainly restrictive in all.
All countries provide undocumented immigrants with access to health care. Unfortunately, immigrants are entitled access to health care, only if they pay 100% of the total cost of their medical care which is clearly impossible. The governments of Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal have established laws that allow full or partial cost recovery. As far as Germany, Greece, Sweden and Switzerland are concerned, only in emergency and urgent cases can undocumented migrants access free medical care. In the United Kingdom pathologists decide whether they will provide undocumented immigrants with primary health care services.
However the system does not cover access to secondary health care services.
• In fact, undocumented immigrants and their children face serious obstacles in accessing health care in every country, even in the countries with more flexible laws. The most important obstacles are:
• The medical costs mainly in France, Belgium and the UK.
• The complexity of the health care and/or insurance system mainly in Belgium and in UK.
• Administrative barriers: i.e. in Belgium, the UK, and Switzerland.
• Fear of complaint, arrest, discrimination or denial of medical care occur mainly in Sweden, the UK, the Netherlands, Italy and Greece.
Finally, lack of information about the rights of undocumented immigrants is obvious everywhere: a quarter of the people who are entitled to insurance coverage are not aware of it.
One request: Respect the right of access to health care within Europe.
MdM demands equal access to preventative care and health care for everyone who lives in Europe without discrimination caused administrative reasons or financial means. The health care system should be separated from migration policies.
Specifically, MdM calls for :
• The observance of medical confidentiality and the official prohibition of the complaint or the arrest of the immigrants, who do not possess a residence permit, during their inpatient care or their contact with public health facilities.
• Immediate action by all EU member states to ensure special protection of minors and pregnant women, so that they may have access to adequate medical care throughout an illness or during pregnancy.
• The protection of people who suffer from serious illnesses and cannot receive adequate and effective medical care in their counties of origin.
These people should not be deported but should receive a residence permit.
MdM appeals to the European Parliament to commit to passing a resolution that will confirm the needs and rights of everyone, including undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers, to equal access to health care.
The pictures, testimonies, the report of the European Observatory as well as a study of European law can be found at www.medecinsdumonde.org and www.mdm-international.org .
The appeal to European Parliament members can be found at www.huma-network.org. In 2009, MdM founded the organization HUMA (Health for Undocumented Immigrants and Asylum Seekers). Huma aims to promote the right of undocumented immigrants to access health care .
