Doctors of the World called for healthcare professionals to sign the HUMA (Health for Undocumented Migrants & Asylum Seekers) Declaration. It was signed by 141 health organisations, representing over 3,000,000 health professionals and presented to the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, 22 March 2011.

For more details please visit the HUMA European Declaration website.

Professor Dinesh Bhugra, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Clare Gerada, the Chair of the Royal College of GPs both signed the declaration. Both of them are important allies in the fight to ensure access to healthcare for asylum seekers and undocumented migrants in the UK, and we are very grateful for their support.

If you want to find out more about how EU countries compare on this topic, read 'Are undocumented migrants & asylum seekers entitled access to health care in the EU?  A comparative overview in 16 countries'.

Preventing Undocumented Women and Children from Accessing Health Care

In December 2010, a hearing was held in the European Parliament (EP) on "Preventing Undocumented Women and Children from Accessing Health Care: Fostering Health Inequalities in Europe".  One major result of the hearing was that on 8 March 2011, the EP adopted a Resolution on "Reducing health inequalities in the EU" in which it calls on Member States to tackle health inequalities in accessing health care for undocumented migrants. The resolution serves a significant step forward in ensuring equitable access to health care for all, with no discrimination linked to administrative status or financial resources.

Here is a report on the public hearing.  You can also watch a video of the hearing.  The video provides an excellent overview on the hearing and key points made by speakers and Members of the European Parliament on why access to health care should not be denied.