Ways states exclude migrants from access to care

A while ago I learned that the government in the UK has put forward a proposal that would charge undocumented migrants for emergency treatment and primary medical healthcare. For now, the proposal has been postponed due to further public consultation. Such a proposal to restrict access to services follows a worrying trend in many member states that try to find ways to deter more migrants to enter their territories. While the arguments may be economic, the proposal would cost the health care system more in the long run told Liliana Keith from PICUM the Independent.

Access to services, including health care is a core concern of Social Platform. This is why we call on decision-makers to revise the 2002 Facilitation Directive to oblige member states to allow for the provision of humanitarian assistance to undocumented migrants, including health care. Read about our campaign against “criminalising solidarity” and take part in our public consultation.

In our statement to the European Council on 24 June we asked for the new Migration Agenda to reflect a human rights-based approach which includes solidarity to ‘protect those in need’, improving safe and legal routes to enter the EU and the implementation of the ‘humanitarian clause’ of the 2002 Facilitation Package.

Unfortunately, Heads of states seem to agree more easily on how to keep people out and send them back than on how to ensure safe a legal access and protection of migrants rights in the EU. (Read our Director’s last week editorial about shifting the debate.)

In a joint letter to EU’s Health Minister ahead of their discussions about the new Migration Agenda at the EPSCO Council on 19 June, NGOs wrote:

‘The right to healthcare is one of the most basic, most universal and most essential human rights, especially for pregnant women and children. Yet, Europe tolerates national laws that hinder vaccination coverage or antenatal and postnatal care from being universal and available to all children and women residing on its territory. Excluding population groups from essential healthcare services is unethical, costly and contradictory to public health. There is an immediate need for universal access to care in the EU.’

Read my previous blog on right to health The discrepancy between law, theory & practice.