In October 2007, Mrs Z. suffered from violent stomach pain. Her doctor suspected kidney stones and sent her to hospital for tests. She went, but they refused to do the tests because she didn’t have insurance and she couldn’t pay. So her doctor prescribed powerful painkillers, but the pain persisted. A month and a half later, the doctor sent her to hospital after having called the urology department. At the urology department reception, Mrs Z. was again told that she couldn’t have the tests unless she paid. Ten months later she is still suffering and still doesn’t have access to care.
“In the IKA [Greek public healthcare system] system they don't explain what to do for our children or how to do it. The doctors seem annoyed by our problems... The truth is that I would prefer not to use IKA even if I am entitled to, because I am concerned about some of the treatments... The paediatrician didn’t seem keen on my daughters, she didn’t even look at us! Happily, my daughters aren't ill very often so we don’t have to use IKA that much. At the Médecins du Monde policlinic the atmosphere is welcoming, my kids smile and seem happy. The paediatricians really enjoy what they do. I think they really enjoy volunteering and love kids.”
“When I first came to Project: London [the Médecins du Monde clinic] I was already very pregnant – I think I was in my sixth month of pregnancy. I had received no ante-natal care, and I was not registered with a GP. I had tried to go to a medical centre when I was three months pregnant, but they asked me for my passport. Later, I went to the hospital to book the delivery: I had to have a caesarean section. The financial personnel were extremely aggressive and rude to me. They told me that if I can’t pay, if I don’t have the money, that I need to leave. At one point, one of the payment officers started screaming at me, telling me very rudely to “Sit here! Speak about money!” I couldn’t take her screams anymore and I broke down. I was sitting there in a little heap on the floor, crying. I tried to explain to them that I simply did not have the money to pay for the services and the delivery, that I was not working and had no relatives here. I told them I was living off vouchers given to me by a local charity—on 28 Euros per week. They told me to go and sell the vouchers and give the money to the hospital.”
«Fui a un centro médico de mi ciudad. Dije que ya había realizado los trámites para obtener una tarjeta sanitaria y que tenía un certificado que me permitía acudir a urgencias. Tenía fiebre y parecía ser una gripe, pero no tenía medicamentos ni información sobre lo que podía tomar, así que acudí a un centro médico. La mujer de la recepción me preguntó de dónde era, miró mi certificado (F6) y me dijo que no podían atenderme, que mi caso no era una urgencia y que para eso está Médicos del Mundo. Le contesté que cuando hice los papeles me dijeron que podía venir a urgencias y que, como no me encontraba bien, había decidido ir. Aparte de Médicos del Mundo, estoy muy sola y no sabría dónde llevar a mis hijas. Le pregunté por qué no podían atenderme y me contestó: “no es gratis, lo pagamos nosotros con nuestro trabajo”. Le dije que ese servicio era público y que era indispensable para la gente, y me dijo que no creyera que ellos iban a pagar todo lo que quisieran los inmigrantes. Me quedé impresionada con su respuesta. Era la primera vez que me sentía rechazada».