Joint appeal for EU health protection for migrants
Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
The health ministers of four Mediterranean EU states, including Malta, have proposed that the EU launch an integrated health protection programme for immigrants who, they argue, could not be treated only at a national level. In a joint statement, Greece, Italy, Malta and Cyprus called for agreement at an EU level on the potential impact of migration movement on European health systems.
The statement, presented at the end of an informal meeting for health ministers in Godollo, Hungary, earlier this week, was accepted and adopted by the Council of Ministers.The four countries insisted that public health and illegal migration were interconnected: “We are deeply concerned with the public health implications of this situation, taking into consideration the very different epidemiological profiles and health status of the populations concerned.”
Noting the EU was very sensitive towards human rights issues, the health ministers added: “We are doing our utmost for the health needs of these populations. At the same time the citizens of the EU countries have to be protected from potential public health threats.”
The four countries invited member states and candidate countries to join forces and respond effectively to the challenges and their serious repercussions on the public health status of EU citizens.
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Louise Vella
Apr 8th 2011, 14:56
Everyone has the right to healthcare. But healthcare is expensive. Not everyone has the right to healthcare at the expense of the Maltese taxpayers. The EU should step up its healthcare programmes in Africa so that Africans can be cured in their own countries. As for illegal immigrants, it is a fact that they tend to have certain illnesses more than Europeans. Tubercolosis had been eradicated in Malta. It came back, in its dormant form, with the start of illegal immigration, starting with employees of the detention centres and the Refugees Commission. A high proportion of new cases of HIV/AIDS in Malta is among illegal immigrants from Africa were the disease is widespread. Then there are cases of sadness and depression when an illegal immigrant finds himself stuck in Malta, instead of reaching his dreamland - the UK, France, Sweden etc. All these illnesses cost a lot of money to cure. It's time the EU which encourages illegal immigration starts paying for all this.
D Cassar
Apr 8th 2011, 09:02
"...At the same time the citizens of the EU countries have to be protected from potential public health threats.” So they are recognizing that the klandestini are a health hazard to the European population. So why are they being allowed to remain in Europe?
S Ciappara
Apr 8th 2011, 09:01
Either send them on to mainland Europe or back. We cannot afford our own health care and are seeing services curtailed. We don't want money. We want the illegal immigrants out of Malta.