Newsletter Juillet 2009 - Numéro 5 (en anglais)

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

 

EP’s Committees have been constituted

The newly elected European Parliament (EP) held its first session in plenary in Strasbourg. This session involved the election of the chair of the EP (Jerzy Buzek, EPP, Polish) and the announcement of who will be in which parliamentary committee. Spanish MEP Fernando Lopez Aguilar (S&D, the former PSE), who, as a candidate, told the HUMA network that he, if elected, “would be willing to stand up for all those living in Europe to receive equal access to healthcare, including undocumented migrants”, was elected as chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), and German MEP Jo Leinen (also S&D) as chair of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI).

For a complete members list of all EP Committees:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/expert/committees.do?language=EN

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

 

BELGIUM

Over 700 asylum seekers with no other form of reception than shelter

Since the beginning of July, the network of reception centres for asylum seekers can not cope any longer with the flow of asylum seekers. This has to do with the capacity of the network and length of the procedure. Since then, newly arrived asylum seekers are accommodated within hotels, the problem being that they totally lack any other form of reception than shelter. When health care is needed, those newly arrived are referred to emergency care services. MDM Belgium decided to start a 2-month project to provide these asylum seekers an effective access to health care.

Source: De Standaard, Opvangcrisis blijft duren

 

 

GREECE

Greek authorities destroy makeshift irregular migrant camp in Patras

On Sunday 12 July 2009, Greek authorities evacuated and destroyed a makeshift camp in the port city of Patras where irregular migrants were living. The irregular migrants were living there for several years. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) also expressed concern about the medical and humanitarian condition of the migrants and asylum seekers who were left homeless, as well as those who were arrested and urged authorities to ensure humane living conditions and the provision of medical assistance to this population.

Source: MSF, ‘MSF is deeply concerned about the condition of the migrants, refugees and asylum seekers after police operation in Patras makeshift camp'

 

 

ITALY

Tuscany's immigration legislation sparks national controversy

Undocumented migration has proved a difficult point between politicians in the Italian region of Tuscany recently, as a new law was passed by the Tuscan authorities in July which introduces a new, rights-based approach to undocumented migrants in the region. The controversy has to do with the treatment and status of undocumented immigrants in the region. 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

 

 

UNITED KINGDOM

Failed asylum seekers in Wales will get free health care

From 15 July, failed asylum seekers will be able to get free health care. This means that people whose application for asylum has failed will be entitled to the same health services as someone ordinarily resident in the UK. This is in contrast to England where failed asylum seekers are liable for health care costs. The minister for health in the Welsh Assembly government said the mark of a civilised society is how it treats sick and dying people.

Source: BMJ 2009;339:b2704, http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/339/jul06_1/b2704

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

UK: Charging vulnerable for NHS primary medical services

Medsin recently released a report summarising 274 submissions to a health department consultation about charging overseas visitors for primary care. It said that 43% of respondents had concerns about the effects on public health of charging, and 55% thought that the proposed charging scheme would not be cost effective or practical to implement.

 

Source: Medsin, “Four Years Later: Charging Vulnerable Migrants for NHS Primary Medical Services”

 

 

 

MDM Germany report on its open.med project

The annual report of MDM Germany’s open.med project has just been released. The project provides access to health care for persons without health insurance. It gives a broad overview of what open.med is about, what profile the patients have, and what pathologies they suffer from.

Source: MDM Germany, Zugang zur medizinischen Versorgung für Menschen ohne Versicherungsschutz

MSF reports on its activities in the Mediterranean

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. According to MSF their presence at entry points to Europe is a telling indication of the lack of adequate medical assistance currently available for these vulnerable groups. Over the past years, MSF medical teams have noted that more and more migrants need medical assistance. Many arrive in a desperate state, suffering from shock, hypothermia, and skin burns as a result of the harsh conditions endured during long journeys at sea.

 

Source: MSF, ‘Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers: Vulnerable people at Europe’s doorstep’

 

VACANCIES

 

The HUMA network is looking for a consultant to conduct an evaluation of a European advocacy project on health care access for undocumented migrants and asylum seekers. Closing date for application is 15 September 2009.

Further details available at: www.huma-network.org > News and press releases

 

The HUMA network is also looking for an intern who will help develop its communication and communication tools. The internship is of a duration of 3 months and will take place in Paris. Further details here.