Access to health care for illegal immigrants in the EU: Should we be concerned?

European Journal of Health Law

Volumn 11, Issue 3, 2004, Pages 245-272

  Romero Ortuño, Román ^a  

^a LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

BELGIUM; DECISION MAKING; EMERGENCY TREATMENT; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; GOVERNMENT; HEALTH CARE ACCESS; HEALTH CARE FINANCING; HEALTH CARE POLICY; HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION; HUMAN; HUMAN RIGHTS; ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT; IMMIGRANT; IMMIGRATION; INFECTION RISK; ITALY; LAW; LEGAL ASPECT; NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE; NETHERLANDS; REVIEW; SOCIAL INSURANCE; SOCIAL SECURITY; SPAIN; TAX; UNITED KINGDOM;

EID: 9744284190     PISSN: 09290273     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1163/1571809042388572     Document Type: Review

References (61)

1. OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) (2003) Trends in International Migration. Sopemi Annual Report, 2002 Edition. Paris: OECD Publications, p. 14. Retrieved April 25, 2004, from 〈http://wwwl.oecd. org/publications/e-book/8103061E.PDF〉
2. Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly (2000) Health conditions of migrants and refugees in Europe (Doc. 8650). Strasbourg: Council of Europe, Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography. Retrieved August 19, 2003, from 〈http://assembly.coe.int//assembly.coe.int/Documents/WorkingDocs/doc00/ EDOC8650.HTM〉
3. See, for instance, Tapinos, G. and Delaunay, D. (2001) (eds.) La mesure de la migration clandestine en Europe. Volume 1: rapport de synthèse (3/1998/E/no.7). Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.
4. Clarke, J. (2000) "The problems of evaluating numbers of illegal immigrants in the European Union", in P. De Bruycker and J. Apap (eds.) Les régularisations des étrangers illégaux dans l'Union européenne - Regularisations of illegal immigrants in the European Union (pp. 13-22). Brussels: Bruylant, p. 18.
5. Salt, J. (2001) Current trends in international migration in Europe [CDMG (2001) 33]. Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publications, p. 22. Available online: 〈http://www.coe.int/T/E/Social_Cohesion/Mgration/〉
6. Martin, S. F. (2000) (ed.) World Migration Report 2000. Geneva: International Organization for Migration; United Nations, p. 198.
7. According to Clarke (see reference 4, p. 19), ILO's rule of thumb is that irregular foreign stock in a given western European country is approximately 10-15% of the regular one. However, academics such as Muss advocate for a smaller proportion (5-10%) [Muss, P. (2001) "International migration and the European Union, trends and consequences", European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research 9 (1): 31-49]. Here a 12.5% rate has been applied to official figures on registered immigration for 1990 and 2000 in the six countries, using the data available in: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2002) International Migration Report 2002 [ST/ESA/SER.A/220]. New York: United Nations Publications. Available online: 〈http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/ittmig2002/ ittmigrep2002.htm〉
8. According to Clarke (see reference 4, p. 19), ILO's rule of thumb is that irregular foreign stock in a given western European country is approximately 10-15% of the regular one. However, academics such as Muss advocate for a smaller proportion (5-10%) [Muss, P. (2001) "International migration and the European Union, trends and consequences", European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research 9 (1): 31-49]. Here a 12.5% rate has been applied to official figures on registered immigration for 1990 and 2000 in the six countries, using the data available in: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2002) International Migration Report 2002 [ST/ESA/SER.A/220]. New York: United Nations Publications. Available online: 〈http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/ittmig2002/ ittmigrep2002.htm〉
9. For an in-depth revision of this topic, see Toebes, B. C. A. (1999) The right to health as a human right in international law. Antwerpen; Oxford: Intersentia.
10. Taran, P.A. (2000) "Human Rights of migrants: challenges of the new decade", International Migration 38 (6), p. 18.
11. Van Krieken, P. (2000) "Health and continued residence: reason or pretext", European Journal of Health Law 7 (1), p. 35.
12. Peers, S. (2001) "Immigration, asylum and the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights", European Journal of Migration and Law 3 (2), p. 164.
13. See reference 2 and: Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly (2000) Health conditions of migrants and refugees in Europe (Doc. 8878). Strasbourg: Council of Europe, Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee. Retrieved August 19, 2003, from 〈http://assembly.coe.int/Documents/WorkingDocs/doc00/ EDOC8878.HTM〉
14. European Commission (2003) Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on immigration, integration and employment [COM (2003) 336 final]. Brussels: Commission of the European Communities, p. 26. Available online: 〈http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/cnc/2003/ com2003_0336en01.pdf〉
15. Vonk, G. (2001) "Migration, Social Security and the Law: some European dilemmas", European Journal of Social Security 3 (4), p. 317.
16. Albrecht, H.J. (2002) "Fortress Europe? Controlling illegal immigration", European Journal of Crime, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice 10 (1), p. 7.
17. Robinson, V. and Segrott, J. (2002) Understanding the decision-making of asylum seekers (Home Office Research Study 243). London: Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate, p. 50. Available online: 〈http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors243.pdf〉
18. For a comprehensive list of organisations, see: PICUM (Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants) (2003) Book of Solidarity: providing assistance to undocumented migrants (Volumes I and II). Antwerp, Belgium: PICUM. 〈http://www.picum.org/〉
19. Wagstaff, A., Van Doorslaer, E., Van der Burg, H., Calonge, S., Christiansen, T., Citoni, G., Gerdtham, U. G., Gerfin, M., Gross, L., Häkinnen, U., Johnson, P., John, J., Klavus, J., Lachaud, C., Lauritsen, J., Leu, R., Nolan, B., Perán, E., Pereira, J., Propper, C., Puffer, F., Rochaix, L., Rodríguez, M., Schellhorn, M., Sundberg, G. and Winkelhake, O. (1999) "Equity in the finance of health care: some further international comparisons", Journal of Health Economics 18 (3), p. 268.
20. House of Lords, Select Committee on the European Union (2002) A common policy on illegal immigration. London: The Stationery Office, p. 13. Available online: 〈http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200102/ldselect/ ldeucom/187/187.pdf〉
21. See reference 2.
22. Mossialos, E., Dixon, A., Figueras, J. and Kutzin, J. (2002) (eds.) Funding health care: options for Europe. Buckingham; Philadelphia: Open University Press, p. 165. Available online: 〈http://www.euro.who.int/ document/e74485.pdf〉
23. Verbruggen, N. (2001) (ed.) Health care for undocumented migrants: Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, United Kingdom. Antwerp, Belgium: PICUM: Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants, p. 24.
24. Ibid., p. 53.
25. Bosch, X. (1999) "Pregnant illegal immigrants get free health care", The Lancet 354 (9187): 1368.
26. JANO (1999) "La asistencia a los emigrantes indocumentados", JANO, Medicina y Humanidades 56 (1289): 5.
27. MTAS (Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales) (1999) Estudio sobre el coste adicional de la extensión de la cobertura de asistencia sanitaria de la Seguridad Social a los extranjeros: resumen ejecutivo. Retrieved August 1, 2003, from 〈http://www.imsersomigracion.upco.es/Documentos/Documentos/pwc/ Ejecutivo.PDF〉
28. Vázquez Villegas, J. (2002) "Inmigración y salud: legislación", Formación Médica Midica Continuada 9 (7), p. 506.
29. Alonso Calderón, J., Canals i Vilà, À., García i López, M., Miret i Serra, À., Olivé i Morros, L. and Viñas i Boladeras, J. (2001) Pla interdepartamental d'immigració 2001-2004 (Volume 1: Catalunya). Barcelona: Entitat Autònoma del Diari Oficial i de Publicacions de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Available online: 〈http://cultura.gencat.net/llengcat/immigra/ pla.htm〉
30. Excluding compulsory treatment.
31. According to Verbruggen (ref. 22, p. 27) and Medisch Steunpunt Mensen Zonder Papieren (ref. 40).
32. According to Clarke and Bröring (reference 32, p. 26,29).
33. Only certain GP surgeries have concluded an agreement with a CPAS (Clarke and Bròring, p. 29).
34. According to Verbruggen (p. 26).
35. No treatment, according to FIAN-Germany and Büro für medizinische Flüchtlingshilfe Berlin (2001). 〈http://www.proasyl.de/ texte/mappe/2001/52/2.htm〉
36. See Van Oort, Kulu-Glasgow et al. (2001), p. 8. 〈http://www.nivel. nl/pdf/illegalen.pdf〉
37. According to Sheldon (reference 31).
38. According to Schrier, van de Wetering et al. (2001). European Psychiatry 16 (3), p. 165.
39. Except when a child delivery is considered as an emergency.
40. Only diagnosis and counselling are free of charge.
41. There are notable exceptions (see text).
42. Other NHS services for which there is no charge are: disctrict nursing, family planning services, London Ambulance Service.
43. It is the discretion of the GP.
44. Only via A&E.
45. If considered urgent or essential (see definitions in the text).
46. Refers to vaccinations and national/international prophylaxis interventions.
47. Torres, A.M. and Sanz, B. (2000) "Health care provision for illegal immigrants: should public health be concerned?", Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 54 (6): 478-479.
48. Reijneveld, S., Verheij, R., Van Herten, L. and De Bakker, D. (2001) "Contacts of general practitioners with illegal immigrants", Scandinavian Journal of Public Health 29 (4): 308-313.
49. See, for instance: Sheldon, T. (1999) "Dutch minister warns that illegal immigrants must receive care", British Medical Journal 318 (7193): 1234.
50. Clarke, K. and Bröring, G. (2000) (eds.) HIV/AIDS care and support for migrant and ethnic minority communities in Europe. Woerden: European Project AIDS and Mobility, p. 29, 116. Available online: 〈http://www.aidsmobility. org/frame_publications.htm〉
51. Domingo, A., Kaplan, A. and Gómez Gil, C. (2000) Easy scapegoats: sans papiers immigrants in Europe. Report on Spain. Weinheim: Freudenberg Stiftung GmbH, p. 23-25. Available online: 〈http://www.freudenbergstiftung. de/english/html/publications.html〉
52. Verbruggen (2001), p. 41, 25.
53. Kieser, A., Jaschke, G., Geißler, N., Luzar, C. and Zickuhr, A. (2000) Easy scapegoats: sans papiers immigrants in Europe: country report Germany, p. 9. Retrieved July 31, 2003, from 〈http://www. freudenbergstiftung.de/english/html/publications.html〉. See also Verbruggen (2001), p. 35-36.
54. Kieser, A., Jaschke, G., Geißler, N., Luzar, C. and Zickuhr, A. (2000) Easy scapegoats: sans papiers immigrants in Europe: country report Germany, p. 9. Retrieved July 31, 2003, from 〈http://www. freudenbergstiftung.de/english/html/publications.html〉. See also Verbruggen (2001), p. 35-36.
55. Zincone, G. (1999) "Illegality, enlightenment and ambiguity: a hot Italian recipe", in M. Baldwin-Edwards and J. Arango (eds.) Immigrants and the informal economy in Southern Europe (pp. 43-82). London: Frank Cass, p. 68.
56. Couper, K. and Santamaria, U. (1984) "An elusive concept: the changing definition of illegal immigrant in the practice of immigration control in the United Kingdom", International Migration Review 18 (3), p. 445.
57. Salute per Tutti (2002) Health resources and immigration in Italy. Immigrants' impressions of our National Health Service, p. 21.
58. See for example: Matteelli, A., Volonterio, A., Gulletta, M., Galimberti, L., Maroccolo, S., Gaiera, G., Giani, G., Rossi, M., Dorigoni, N., Bellina, L., Orlando, G., Bisoffi, Z. and Castelli, F. (2001) "Malaria in illegal Chinese immigrants, Italy", Emerging Infectious Diseases 7 (6): 1055-1058.
59. Medisch Steunpunt Mensen Zonder Papieren (2003) Urgent Medical Care for Illegal Residents. Retrieved September 8, 2003, from 〈http://www. medimmigrant.be/〉
60. Médicos Sin Fronteras (2002) Socio-sanitary handbook for immigrants in the Community of Madrid. Madrid: Médicos Sin Fronteras. Available online: 〈http://www.msf.es/pdf/manual_inmigrantes.zip〉
61. Fallek, S.B. (1997) "Health care for illegal aliens: why it is a necessity", Houston Journal of International Law 19, p. 980.