Legislation in Italy (national health system)
Asylum seekers are entitled to access health care on equal grounds as Italian nationals in regards to coverage and conditions. This is also the rule for unaccompanied children.
Undocumented migrants have access to wide health coverage (specifically detailed and listed in the law) through a specific system called "STP - Temporarily Present Foreigners" consisting of a short-term but renewable anonymous code that is easily provided to all undocumented migrants. Although undocumented migrants are normally requested to pay a symbolic contribution to the system through the "ticket", the major barrier is the lack of entitlement to have a family doctor, which also leads to many obstacles accessing specialists.
Download the report on the Italian legislation on the access to health care for undocumented migrants and asylum seekers.
Download the Comparative overview of the legislation on access to health care for undocumented migrants and asylum seekers in 16 countries.
Italian News on health care
Italia has published its annual report on the situation of the human rights in Italy and a chapter focuses on migration and asylum. Amnesty particularly condemns the harshening of the Italian legislation on irregular migration which criminalizes undocumented migrants. While it is still possible for irregular migrants to receive health care and enrol their children at school without the need of showing a residence permit, Amnesty believes that after the approval of the Italian security package in July 2009, migrants have been dissuaded to report to the police on suffered maltreatments and abuses fearing of being arrested and deported.
Source: PICUM Newsletter June 2010
More information (in Italian) at: http://www.amnesty.it/Rapporto-Annuale-2010/aggiornamento-diritti-umani-Italia#00ce25.
A national survey conducted by Censis, an Italian research centre for social investments, has shown that more than 80% of Italian citizens are in favour of access to health care for undocumented migrants.
Source: PICUM newsletter, April 2010, and Adnkronos.
A new law was passed by the Tuscan authorities in July which introduces a new, rights-based approach to undocumented migrants in the region, granting free access to health care.
On Monday 6 July 2009, Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) released a report entitled ‘Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers: Vulnerable people at Europe’s doorstep’. MSF reports on its activities in Italy, Greece, Malta, and Morocco.
A new law was passed in June 2009 by the Tuscan authorities which introduces a new rights-based approach to undocumented migrants in the region, granting free access to health care. While current national laws seek to curb and control the presence of undocumented immigrants, Tuscany's new law goes in the opposite direction, emphasizing the basic human rights of both legal and “illegal” immigrants, e.g. granting free access to health care and other forms of socio-sanitary assistance.
Source: The Florentine, New law makes waves
On Wednesday 13 May 2009, the Italian lower house of Parliament approved legislation, which criminalizes irregular migration. This is the latest effort by Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right alliance to get tough on "illegal" migration. The legislation makes entering or staying in Italy without permission a crime punishable by a fine of € 5,000 to € 10,000 and it also imposes a prison term of up to three years for anyone who rents housing to an undocumented migrant. But the bill does not lift the ban on health professionals to report undocumented migrants to the authorities.
EU Observer, http://euobserver.com/22/28124
The International House of Women in Rome, a meeting point and political rallying centre for Italian and migrant women, has released a statement against racism and sexism which has been ratified by several organisations. The joint declaration denounces Italy's current policies and legislation towards exploited and excluded migrants which fosters precariousness and feeds new forms of popular racism resulting in increased episodes of inhumanity and violence. The International House of Women seek namely to conduct an analysis of the living and working conditions of immigrant women in Italy with specific emphasis on their right to access health care.
IHW's blog: http://www.celestissima.org/italie-la-maisoninternationale-%20des-femmes/
SIMM, Società Italiana di Medicina delle Migrazioni, organised the "X Consensus Conference on Immigration" on 5-7 February 2009 in Trapani (Italy).
This Conference brought together experts on health and immigration with the aim of discussing relevant controversial medical issues as well as debating the current situation in Italy as regards the possibility of denouncing undocumented migrants and access to health care for undocumented migrants, undocumented children, victims of torture and roma people.
http://www.mdm-international.org
The views expressed in this website are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers (EAHC). Neither the EAHC nor any person acting on behalf of the EAHC is responsible for the use which might be made of this website. This website arises from the averroes project which has received funding from the European Union, in the framework of the Public Health Programme 2003-2008.