European policies on migration and healthcare

13.10.2016

Question for written answer P-007718-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ildikó Gáll-Pelcz (PPE)

Handling migration-related healthcare tasks at political level is a relatively new issue to EU leaders. In the majority of Member States and with a view to improving access, several types of measures are geared towards service providers and the migrants using healthcare services. These measures are mostly focused on information and disseminating that information. In recent years, an increasing number of European health politicians have recognised that they cannot simply handle migrants’ healthcare through public policy by creating appropriate legislation; they must also address a whole series of social, information, cultural and language problems. Most of the specialist policies devised on this matter at EU level recently are still in their infancy. Almost none of the Member States are monitoring or evaluating the measures, which also makes it very difficult to analyse their implementation. In the current European economic and political situation, the efforts geared towards handling migration, including migrants’ healthcare, have come to a standstill.

— With regard to the foregoing, what steps will the Commission take to ensure that the healthcare provided to the migrants does not overburden healthcare institutions in Member States?— Does the Commission plan to set up a pan-European monitoring system? If so, within what time frame does it wish to apply it?— Given the increasing number of refugees, is the Commission also planning to establish a separate fund to finance care for the refugees?