Overturning a controversial decision taken three years ago, Spain's conservative government said that it would restore free health care for illegal immigrants.
Under a reform that came into place in September 2012, foreigners without residency papers lost their national health cards which allowed them free treatment in local public health clinics. Illegal immigrants who are over 18 only get free treatment in case of an emergency, pregnancy or birth.
Majority of Americans Think Immigrants Should Learn to Speak English
Seventy two percent of Americans think immigrants should learn to speak English after setting up a home in the United States.
Advertisement
"It is more sensible and reasonable that this care be given in health centers so emergency wards are not saturated," Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said as he announced that all undocumented immigrants would once again come within the fold of the public health system.
Amnesty International and other right groups had fiercely criticized the government's decision to deny public health care to illegal immigrants, saying it breached international agreements. Health charity Doctors of the World ran a campaign called the "Right to treat", in which it encouraged doctors to continue treating illegal immigrants. In a report issued at the end of 2013, the group said the reform had a "devastating effect" as over 800,0000 people had lost access to free public health care in just one year.
![Children of Mexican Immigrants Have Higher Risk of Behavior Problems]( "Children of Mexican Immigrants Have Higher Risk of Behavior Problems")
Children of undocumented Mexican immigrants have a higher risk of behavior problems than their co-ethnic counterparts with documented or naturalized citizen mothers, claims a new study.
Several regional governments, including those of Andalusia and Catalonia, Spain's largest and most populous regions, ignored Madrid's orders and kept providing health care to illegal immigrants.
Rajoy said however that illegal immigrants will not have the right to a health card in line with policy in other European Union nations. But he said the government would draw up nationwide rules to ensure illegal immigrants can access public health care.
Spain's College of Physicians welcomed the move, but it said that without a health card, illegal immigrants will still not receive free medication. "Their health care will be more like that of the 19th century and the 21st century," it said in a statement.
The government's reversal comes as Spain gears up for regional and local elections in May and a year-end general election.
Source: AFP
Children of Mexican Immigrants Have Higher Risk of Behavior Problems
Children of undocumented Mexican immigrants have a higher risk of behavior problems than their co-ethnic counterparts with documented or naturalized citizen mothers, claims a new study.
Advertisement
Several regional governments, including those of Andalusia and Catalonia, Spain's largest and most populous regions, ignored Madrid's orders and kept providing health care to illegal immigrants.
Rajoy said however that illegal immigrants will not have the right to a health card in line with policy in other European Union nations. But he said the government would draw up nationwide rules to ensure illegal immigrants can access public health care.
Spain's College of Physicians welcomed the move, but it said that without a health card, illegal immigrants will still not receive free medication. "Their health care will be more like that of the 19th century and the 21st century," it said in a statement.
The government's reversal comes as Spain gears up for regional and local elections in May and a year-end general election.
Source: AFP
Immigrants from Certain Regions may Face More Complications in State of Pregnancy
Increased monitoring during pregnancy will be required for pregnant immigrants from Sub Saharan Africa, Latin America and Caribbean islands according to a new research
Advertisement
 Senator Ricardo Lara Introduces Bill for Undocumented ImmigrantsState Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Long Beach) introduced his bill which would permit undocumented immigrants in California to qualify for free or subsidized health insurance. | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Reading
Latest General Health News
In India, youth must be aware of the diseases linked to cigarette smoking and tobacco consumption, causing a form of healthcare emergency.
Direct coastal access may represent a viable route to public health promotion, but the relationships of coastal living are not strongest among lower-income groups.
New research by Tinnitus UK has found that over four million gardeners are putting their hearing capacity at risk this summer without using safety protection.
Mucus plugs could be targeted to help reduce fatalities from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The development of reliable curative therapies for multiple sclerosis could significantly reduce the economic burden of the disease on patients and wider society.