Conclusions and Recommendations
PICUM Experts Seminar
‘Access to Health Care for Undocumented Migrants’
Brussels,  22 &  23 March 2001

 

Preamble

Acknowledging

The restrictive European policies which socially and administratively exclude undocumented migrants

Emphasizing

The right that the highest attainable standard of health for undocumented migrants should be accepted as a basic social right irrespective of their residence status

Recognizing

The importance of commitment of health and social care professionals to protect and promote human rights, especially the right to the highest attainable standard of health

Aware of

The importance of the principle of professional confidentiality for health professionals and the need to uphold this principle  

The participants of the seminar recommend:

  1. The development and promotion of legal frameworks facilitating access to health care for undocumented migrants, aiming at full and equitable access as a common standard in accordance with the principle of non-discrimination and supported by article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the General Comment of the Committee of this Covenant.

Any national or international administrative measures which restrict full and equitable access should be abolished.

  1. That all those working with undocumented migrants actively participate in regular reporting to the committee of the ICESCR as part of the monitoring of article 12.
  1. The promotion of education on human rights issues for health and social care workers, especially with respect to undocumented migrants.
  1. The development and coordination of medical databases, detailing the availability of health care in different countries from which migrants come, under the auspices of independent organizations.
  1. That professional confidentiality be respected and protected by law, and that professional organizations and other relevant bodies support individual health workers in maintaining confidentiality in their work with undocumented migrants.
  1. That existing good practice in the development of advisory and monitoring projects for those working with undocumented migrants, such as those in the Netherlands and Belgium, be extended to other countries.

The participants of this Seminar are committed to engaging other professionals and the public in support of the rights of undocumented migrants.

Participants:

Dr. Adriaan Van Es (GP Utrecht, Secretary IFHHRO)
Dr. Kea Fogelberg (GP Leiden, Johannes Wierstichting)
Mr. René Grotenhuis (Director Stichting PHAROS)
Ms. Wil Voogt (Health Care Inspectorate The Netherlands)
Dr. Med. Gisela Penteker (GP Lower Saxony, Förderverein Niedersächsischer Flüchtlingsrat e.V., IPPNW)
Ms. Tanja Braun (GP Berlin, Büro für medizinische flüchtlingshilfe)
Ms. Wiebke Würflinger (Psychologist Berlin, Büro für medizinische flüchtlingshilfe)
Dr. Rachel Crowther (Oxford Health Authority)
Ms. Liz Peretz (Oxford Health Authority)
Dr. Angela Burnett (GP, London)
Ms. Ellen Druyts (Medisch Steunpunt Mensen Zonder Papieren Belgium)
Dr. Pierre Rijckmans (Médecins Sans Frontières Belgium)
Ms. Dominique Van Huystee (ASKV Amsterdam, PICUM Excom)
Mr. Pieter Muller (PICUM Chair)
Mr. Didier Vanderslycke (Steunpunt Mensen Zonder Papieren, PICUM Excom)