Brussels, 20/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 19 October, the S&D Group at the European Parliament reacted very vigorously to the new report from the European Agency on Fundamental Rights. The report criticises the lack of access that undocumented migrants have to health care in the EU. In the report, the agency emphasises that this access to health care, such as hospital treatment, is “largely refused to undocumented immigrants”.
This study analyses the situation in 10 member states (Belgium, Germany, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Spain and Ireland) and notes that in certain countries, hospital treatment is limited to emergencies. It also points out that migrants do not always have access to pre-and post-natal care and are often refused free medicines or have to pay prices for them that are higher than those paid by nationals of the host country, explains thee S&D in a press release.
Although certain member states include free cover such as state medical assistance in France, a number of prior conditions must be fulfilled, explains the European Agency on Fundamental Rights.
The S&D explains that Greece and Spain are the only countries studied where the children of illegal immigrants have the right to health care in the same conditions as children of host country nationals.
The Socialists are therefore using this report to urge the Commission to ensure that the rights included in the Charter on Fundamental Rights be fully respected, particularly for access to health care (and education) for undocumented immigrants, explains the press release. The Socialists also denounce the “cruel and counter-productive” denial of health care and warn against the dangers of an incriminatory atmosphere developing, as well as the risks of expulsion that discourage migrants seeking healthcare. The Socialists underline the possible dangers to public health that could be created “in the case of contagious diseases”. (SP/transl.fl)