This case examines the recent incident in which The Ministry of Health in Cyprus has come under scrutiny for mistakenly registering 170 children of asylum-seekers in the national healthcare system, only to subsequently remove them. Access to this system requires a valid residence permit, excluding asylum-seekers who are obligated to contribute a percentage of their salaries to the General Healthcare System (GHS).
While the GHS was introduced in June 2019 to provide comprehensive coverage and address healthcare disparities, asylum-seekers remain excluded. This exclusion goes against international treaties safeguarding the right to fair and quality healthcare for all, including refugees and asylum-seekers. Cyprus, with its location in the Eastern Mediterranean recorded the highest number of asylum-seekers per capita in the EU in 2021.
The protracted asylum application process, lasting two to three years on average, creates barriers to employment, healthcare, and education for asylum-seekers, pushing many into poverty. Cyprus’s recent healthcare reform aimed to enhance accessibility and coverage through the GHS, but the exclusion of asylum-seekers has raised concerns about health equity and compliance with international agreements.
The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of addressing the health needs of migrants and refugees, aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Despite these international mandates, the case of Cyprus highlights a significant gap in the protection of asylum-seekers’ right to health, perpetuating health inequities. Asylum-seekers encounter hurdles like language barriers and exclusion from comprehensive policies.
Cyprus, with the highest per capita asylum-seeker rate in the EU, exacerbates disparities by excluding them from its newly established General Healthcare System (GHS), hindering trauma care, thus creating an exclusionary context for them. Negative societal attitudes persist, further isolating asylum-seekers. Despite the GHS’s aim for equitable healthcare, its exclusionary approach perpetuates disparities, making their belonging persistent.
The absence of clear healthcare access guidelines complicates matters, leaving asylum-seekers with limited access to basic healthcare, ultimately resulting in a modus vivendi outcome.
