RT Article
T1 Access to health care by migrants with precarious status during a health crisis: some insights from Portugal
JF Human rights review
VO 22
IS 4
SP 459
OP 482
A1 Raposo, Vera Lúcia
A2 Violante, Teresa
LA English
YR 2021
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1784454117
AB In March 2020, the Portuguese Government issued a remarkable regulation by which irregular migrants who had previously started the regularization procedure were temporarily regularized and thus allowed full access to all social benefits, including healthcare. The Portuguese constitutional and legal framework is particularly generous regarding the right to healthcare to irregular migrants. Nevertheless, until now, several practical barriers prevented full access to healthcare services provided by the national health service, even in situations in which it was legally granted. This decision is not only remarkable in light of the fulfilling of migrants’ rights to health, as imposed by international commitments assumed by, but also in view of the fight against COVID-19. The decision is grounded both on human rights and in public health reasons. The paper is divided in two main parts. In the first one, it analyzes national State obligations with regard to healthcare provision to migrants in irregular situation. In the second part, it analyzes the Portuguese solution, using this case study to discuss the possible mechanisms to comply with such obligations.
K1 Public Health
K1 Irregular migrants
K1 right to health
K1 Pandemic
K1 Covid-19
K1 Portugal
DO 10.1007/s12142-021-00621-5