NGO claims policies as yet unapproved already being enforced
Portugal’s Obstetric Violence Observatory (OVO PT) has denounced cases of health professionals refusing to assist immigrant women, as well as health centre security guards preventing those women from accessing services.
In a statement today, the NGO says that in the complaints it has received, women have even reported being physically prevented from accessing the service desk in order to register at the health centres and be able to have proper follow-up during pregnancy and later during childbirth.
OVO PT believes these impediments are motivated by bills passed in parliament in December on foreigners’ access to the SNS national health service, which have been referred to the parliamentary health committee, and as such are not yet in force.
In the statement, the NGO (non-governmental organisation) expresses ‘deep concern’ about access to the SNS, specifically to gynaecological and obstetric services, which involve monitoring pregnancy, childbirth, voluntary termination of pregnancy and family planning, for immigrant (foreign) women in Portugal – regardless of whether they are in a regular or irregular/resident or irregular/non-resident situation.
It warns that if the bills are approved as they were drafted in December and come into force, ‘they will exclude immigrants whose residence permits have expired, leaving many residents without healthcare’.
One of the proposals (from the PSD and CDS-PP ruling coalition) proposes that foreigners in an irregular situation and non-residents have to present proof of healthcare coverage and the documentation deemed necessary by the SNS – except in urgent cases – (and that even in urgent situations, they may have to present these documents later).
Two proposals by CHEGA stipulate that foreigners, stateless people and migrants without legal status, as well as applicants for international protection whose application has not yet been granted, must pay to access the SNS, except in emergency situations.
One of the CHEGA proposals also stipulates that non-resident foreign citizens must pay user charges and the full cost of medical acts, including in emergency cases/ emergency hospitalisation.
‘Clear discrimination in access to health’
OVO PT cites the Basic Health Law and Decree-Law no. 52/2022in force is that assures ‘everyone has access to the SNS’ , including nationals of European Union member states or equivalent, nationals of third countries and stateless persons, with permanent residence or in a situation of stay, such as holidays, or even temporary residence in Portugal.
“Foreigners seeking international protection – as well as their families – and migrants with or without their legal status, under the terms of the applicable legal regime, also have the right to access the SNS”, the NGO insists.
OVO PT points out that Portugal is pleased to have had GDP growth above the EU average, but that “this is only possible due to the work of the immigrants who have chosen Portugal as their new home”.
The NGO believes the complaints it has received “report situations where the law has been broken” and expresses its “greatest concern” about the “negative impact” that the bills could have on public health if they are approved, “as well as on the integration of migrants into Portuguese society”.
In short, in line with left wing parties, OVO PT sees the bills under consideration as policies of “clear discrimination in access to health, violating the principles of equality and universal access to health, increasing the risk of maternal and infant mortality for foreign/immigrant populations”. ND
Source: LUSA
