Access to health care by asylum seekers and refugees

Από Greece Wiki

Greece has confirmed the Geneva Convention in 1959 and the New York Protocol in 1968. Article 24 of the Convention states that regarding social insurance, and specifically regarding legislative arrangements that have to do with labor accidents, occupational diseases, maternity, disability and any other risk factor which is being addressed by the public health insurance system of the country, the contracted countries should reserve for the legally residing refugees the same treatment as for their own citizens. Free health care services and medications are strictly offered to persons possesing a refugee identity card, an asylum allowance seeking card or a card of a special residence permit (for humanitarian reasons).

Once one or more refugees arrive in Greece health care services are mobilized. Special note should be made about the massive arrival of refugees in Greece daily, mainly through from the Turkish coasts. These people are packed for many days, under miserable conditions, without any water and they mainly come from countries at war, like Afghanistan, Iraq, Kourdistan, Pakistan, Palestine or Somalia.

The Ministry of Health in those cases operates as follows: upon their arrival large groups of emigres are being hosted in settings which the Prefectorial Self-Administration Units provide. The nearest public health services are being notified and the first medical examinations are being performed on the spot, while more serious cases are being reffered to hospitals and health centers.

In total, the Ministry of Health provides for 13 hospitality centers, from Lavrio (Attica) to Evros (Northern Greece), the capacity of which amounts to 1400 people,however today 2000 people are being accomodated. These numbers are essentially minor compared to the actual needs. The main burden of refugees’ care and hospitalization is being carried by Non Governmental Organizations.

Source: National Report on Social Exclusion and Migrant Health, Apostolis Kapsalis, 2003

Information brochure from the Ministry of Public Order (available in 5 languages)