Glossary
The EMN Glossary – as one of the key products of the EMN - improves comparability by enabling a common understanding and use of terms and definitions relating to asylum and migration. The Glossary draws on a variety of sources, but primarily on the legislation of the EU asylum and immigration acquis, and makes terms available in the majority of EU Member State languages.
The online version is regularly updated and available in various languages.
- BG: достъп до здравни гриижи
- CZ: přístup ke zdravotní péči
- DE: Zugang zu medizinischer Versorgung
- EE: ligipääs tervishoiule
- EN: access to healthcare
- ES: acceso a la asistencia sanitaria
- FI: oikeus terveydenhuoltoon
- FR: accès aux soins de santé
- GA: Rochtain ar Chúram Sláinte
- GR: πρόσβαση στην υγειονομική περίθαλψη
- HU: a migránsok társadalombiztosítási és egészségügyi ellátásokhoz való hozzáférése
- IT: accesso all’assistenza sanitaria
- LT: sveikatos priežiūros prieinamumas
- LV: piekļuve veselības aprūpei
- MT: Aċċess għas-servizzi tas-saħħa/ għall-kura sanitarja
- NL: toegang tot gezondheidszorg
- NO: tilgang til helsetjenester (b) / tilgang til helsetenester (n)
- PL: dostęp do opieki zdrowotnej
- RO: acces la ingrijirea sanatatii / acces la sistemul medical
- SE: tillgång till hälso- och sjukvård
- SK: prístup k zdravotnej starostlivosti
- SL: dostop do zdravstvenega varstva
Definition
Healthcare entitlements enjoyed by third-country nationals (migrants, applicants for international protection and refugees) in EU Member States and in their countries of origin.
Synonyms
healthcare benefits, medical benefits
Broader
social protection benefits
Comments
1. In EU Member States, the scope of healthcare to which a third-country national has access depends on their residence or employment status. For further information see EMN: Migrants access to social security and healthcare: policies and practice, 2014.
2. According to Council Directive 2003/109/EC (Long Term Residents Directive), long-term residents enjoy the same access to healthcare as nationals as defined by national law.
3. Directive 2011/95/EU (Recast Qualification Directive) grants access to adequate healthcare, including treatment of mental disorders when needed, to beneficiaries of international protection under the same eligibility conditions as nationals of the EU Member State that has granted such protection.
4.Directive 2013/33/EU (Recast Reception Conditions Directive) establishes minimum standards for access to healthcare for applicants of international protection during the asylum procedure. It requires EU Member States to ensure that asylum seekers at least receive emergency care and essential treatment for illnesses and serious mental disorders. However, the entitlement of asylum seekers to healthcare services depends on national legislation and varies among Member States. See for example, the EMN: Ad-Hoc Query on System of medical treatment of asylum seekers in Member States.
5. Access to healthcare can be a key factor in the process of decision-making on applications for international protection. Subsidiary protection may apply if the asylum-seeker contends that a return to the country of origin is impossible for health reasons, as the return of a sick person which is often connected with the medical standards in the country of return could constitute a breach of Art. 3 ECHR. Thus case workers have to take into account whether medical treatment is available in the country of origin and whether the available medical treatment would also be (e.g. financially) accessible to the concerned person upon return. For further information see the description of the MedCOI project in the List of projects funded by the European Refugee Fund in 2011.
2. According to Council Directive 2003/109/EC (Long Term Residents Directive), long-term residents enjoy the same access to healthcare as nationals as defined by national law.
3. Directive 2011/95/EU (Recast Qualification Directive) grants access to adequate healthcare, including treatment of mental disorders when needed, to beneficiaries of international protection under the same eligibility conditions as nationals of the EU Member State that has granted such protection.
4.Directive 2013/33/EU (Recast Reception Conditions Directive) establishes minimum standards for access to healthcare for applicants of international protection during the asylum procedure. It requires EU Member States to ensure that asylum seekers at least receive emergency care and essential treatment for illnesses and serious mental disorders. However, the entitlement of asylum seekers to healthcare services depends on national legislation and varies among Member States. See for example, the EMN: Ad-Hoc Query on System of medical treatment of asylum seekers in Member States.
5. Access to healthcare can be a key factor in the process of decision-making on applications for international protection. Subsidiary protection may apply if the asylum-seeker contends that a return to the country of origin is impossible for health reasons, as the return of a sick person which is often connected with the medical standards in the country of return could constitute a breach of Art. 3 ECHR. Thus case workers have to take into account whether medical treatment is available in the country of origin and whether the available medical treatment would also be (e.g. financially) accessible to the concerned person upon return. For further information see the description of the MedCOI project in the List of projects funded by the European Refugee Fund in 2011.