Greece - 2012
Differential access to social protection system and benefits - Do some or more categories of migrants minorities or stateless/non-citizens face limitations and restrictions?
- Code:
- RED91
- Key Area:
- Health And Social Protection
- Strand(s):
- Discrimination, Equality
Short Answer |
Yes. |
Qualitative Info |
As the ECRI noted in its most recent 2009 report, public hospital staff are obliged by law to refuse medical treatment to irregular immigrants except in emergencies and to minor children. In practice medical staff and their associations refuse to implement such provision as being against the rights of the patient and the Hippocratic Oath. Nevertheless, the NCHR and ECRI have urged the authorities to repeal this provision and to avoid any discriminatory practices. In particular the ECRI noted with concern the ‘reports indicating lacunae in the imparting of information on their rights and in the availability of translation services, as well as reports of stereotypes and discrimination against immigrants in the health services’.
Legally residing and employed migrants with regular social security status are entitled to access to health services and provisions under equal status with Greek citizens. However, migrants that are not covered by a social security program (e.g. unemployed, unsecured, with a low income) are not entitled to the social protection provisions which grant free health care and medical coverage, preserved exclusively to Greeks and ethnic Greek immigrants (‘repatriated’ and ‘homogenis’). As the MIGHEALTHNET notes 'given the spread of informal employment arrangements many legally residing immigrants are deprived of social security and hence access to healthcare. Moreover, access to health care services is gravelly hindered by long delays (up to 6 months) in the renewal of residence and work permits, depriving them from social insurance and consequently from free access to the health care system.' Undocumented migrants in Greece are only entitled to access to hospital emergency rooms for the treatment of life-threatening conditions. The only exception is for foreign patients with HIV or other infectious diseases, who can benefit from free medical care and hospital admission, provided that the appropriate treatment is not available in their country of origin. Asylum seekers are also entitled to the same access to health care as Greeks. However, prior to obtaining an asylum seeker's status they are only entitled to emergency care under life-threatening conditions, like undocumented migrants. Sources: ECRI Report on Greece, Fourth Monitoring Cycle, (15.09.2009), http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Greece/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf: European survey on undocumented migrant's access to health care http://www.medecinsdumonde.org/gb/content/download/4518/36169/file/rapport_observatoire_english.pdf MIGHEALTHNET, National Capodistrian University of Athens, Έκθεση για την υγεία των μεταναστών στην Ελλάδα, (03.2009), http://www.mighealth.net/el/index.php/, english summary: http://www.mighealth.net/el/images/f/f7/Greek_State_of_the_Art_Report_-_English_Summary.pdf Data collected by the MIGHEALTHNET, information network on good practice in health care for migrants and minorities in Europe, Greek wiki, http://www.mighealth.net/el/index.php/ |
Data | |
Groups affected/interested | Migrants, Refugees |
Type (R/D) | |
Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas | Health and social protection |
External Url | |
Situation(s) |
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