MEPs call on Member States to tackle inequalities in access to healthcare for undocumented migrants
MEPs call on Member States to tackle inequalities in access to healthcare for undocumented migrants in their Resolution on 'reducing health inequalities in the EU' adopted.
The European Parliament adopted today, 8th of March, a Resolution on 'Reducing health inequalities in the EU' in which it calls on Member States to tackle inequalities in access to health care for undocumented migrants*. The HUMA network and Médecins du Monde call on Member States to listen to them and to take action on this issue.
In this resolution, the European Parliament stresses that "health inequalities are not only the result of a host of economic, environmental and lifestyle-related factors, but also of problems relating to access to healthcare"; and that "equitable access to healthcare is not secured, not only in practice but also in law, for undocumented migrants in many EU countries".
The European Parliament calls on Member States "to ensure that the most vulnerable groups, including undocumented migrants, are entitled to and are provided equitable access to healthcare"; "to assess the feasibility to support healthcare for irregular migrants by providing a definition based on common principles for basic elements of healthcare as defined by their national legislation"; and "to ensure all pregnant women and children, irrespective of their status, are entitled to and effectively benefit from social protection as defined in their national legislation"**.
With this Resolution, it is the first time the EP addresses so clearly the fundamental right to health of undocumented migrants.
On 8 December 2010, MEPs joined Médecins du Monde, the HUMA network, EAPN, EWL, PICUM*** in urging Member States to tackle health inequalities in access to health care for undocumented migrants - in particular children and women at a public hearing held in Brussels. They highlighted that the access to healthcare of these vulnerable groups was threatened by both legislative and practical barriers, and called on European and national decision-makers to take action to protect their rights and health by ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all with no discrimination linked to administrative status or financial resources was needed.
- A video of the public hearing of 8 December is now available on: www.huma-network.org
- The 8 March 2011 Resolution on 'Reducing health inequalities in the EU' is available at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=FR&reference=P7-TA-2011-0081
Contact person :
MdM : Benoit Blondel, 00 32 484 24 84 89
Download the press release:
EN_Press_release_final.pdf 23.29 kB
* The Resolution has been adopted by 379 votes in favour, 228 against and 49 abstentions (656 MEP voting).
** The Member States reasserted the latter priority in the 8 June 2010 Council Conclusions on 'Equity and health in all policies: solidarity in health', 8 June 2010 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/lsa/114994.pdf
*** PICUM: Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants; EWL: the European Women's Lobby; EAPN: the European Anti-Poverty Network
http://www.mdm-international.org
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