Greece
The 2019 National Integration Strategy identified the necessity to improve access to health and welfare services through actions that help remove any barriers due to linguistic and/or cultural differences, through specialized intercultural training of hospital staff and primary health care services. Policy Measure 2.4 aims to facilitate the access of female migrants, applicants and beneficiaries of international protection in health and welfare services. Policy Measure 2.4.1. focuses on the extension of medical care and psychosocial support programs to applicants and beneficiaries of international protection. Policy Measure2.4.2 gives emphasis on specialized intercultural training of medical and nursing staff in hospitals and other health services. Policy Measure 2.4.3 promotes specialized intercultural mediation services in hospitals and other health services. The 2021 National Integration Strategy underlines the need for the pre-integration of asylum applicants. Goal 1: Ensuring Security and Protection includes: Objective 1: Ensure a safe living environment, especially for women, children and people with increased needs care and reception. Objective 2: Timely detection and case management chronic mental health problems and/or disabilities. Objective 3: Promote sexual and reproductive health.
Regarding social welfare Law 4636/2019 (art. 29, 30) provides access to social welfare for beneficiaries of international protection without drawing any distinction between refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection. Beneficiaries of international protection should enjoy the same rights and receive the necessary social assistance according to the terms that apply to nationals, without discrimination. Not all beneficiaries have access to social rights and welfare benefits. In practice, difficulties in access to rights stem from bureaucratic barriers, which make no provision to accommodate the inability of beneficiaries to submit certain documents. family allowance, single mother allowance, birth allowance, student allowance, disability benefits, guaranteed minimum income, uninsured retiree benefit. If a woman is a recognised refugee or a beneficiary of subsidiary protection, she has the right by law to receive the necessary social assistance under the same conditions as Greek nationals.
Regarding access to healthcare for female beneficiaries of international protection is provided under the same conditions as for nationals (Law 4636/2019, art. 31), pursuant to L 4368/2016. Despite the favourable legal framework, actual access to healthcare services is hindered in practice by significant shortages of resources and capacity for both foreigners and the local population, as a result of the austerity policies followed in Greece, as well as the lack of adequate cultural mediators. Female third-country nationals or stateless persons who have applied for international protection before the competent Receiving Authorities, can apply for a Provisional Insurance and Health Care Number (PAAYPA) for asylum seekers. It corresponds to the full registration card, which allows them to access services like health services, medical care, social security and the labour market. Once a woman is granted a protection status, she has to apply for a Social Security Number (AMKA). With a Social Security Number, she would be able to access health care, employment protection, benefits, and other state services. However, administrative obstacles with regard to the issuance of a Social Security Number also impede access to healthcare. Those who went through a pre-registration process in relation to their international protection application could obtain a Temporary Social Security Number (PAMKA) (Law 4782/2021) and with JMD 2981/2021 specific categories of beneficiaries of PAMKA issuance were defined, i.e., asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors without a PAAYPA, as well as detained third-country nationals in Pre-departure Detention Centers for Foreigners.
From Georgia to Greece, accessible at https://viw.pixel-online.org/case_view.php?id=MzA= This story shows the difficulties of accessing the health system.
References
Greek Council for Refugees (2020). Asylum Information Database (AIDA) (2019). Social welfare- Greece. Brussels: European Council on Refugees and Exiles.
https://asylumineurope.org/reports/country/greece/content-international-protection/social-welfare/#_ftn3
This report draws on information provided by national bodies related to asylum procedures.
Ministry of Migration and Asylum (2019). National Integration Strategy. Athens: National Integration Strategy.
https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Β6.-Εθνικ?-Στρατηγικ?-2019.pdf
This link provides access to the 2019 National Integration Strategy of Greece.
Ministry of Migration and Asylum (2021). National Integration Strategy. Athens: National Integration Strategy.
https://migration.gov.gr/migration-policy/integration/politiki-entaxis-se-ethniko-epipedo/
This link provides access to the 2021 National Integration Strategy of Greece.