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The Refugee Law of Ukraine guarantees the right to medical assistance for asylum seekers. Prior to medical reform, asylum seekers had access to free emergency medical aid. However, new amendments suspended this provision.[1] Currently, access to health care for asylum seekers remains extremely limited. The State ensures coverage for asylum seekers of necessary medical services and medicines related to emergency medical care. Asylum seekers are required to reimburse the State the full cost of the medical services and medicines provided.[2]
Regarding other health care services, asylum seekers are required to pay as any other foreigners. For most of them, this is not affordable. There is also concern regarding chronic diseases which demand constant care, such as diabetes. The asylum procedure can take many years and these people cannot receive any disability benefits from the state. The UNHCR also described a case, when an asylum seeker’s appointed medical operation was cancelled by the hospital because of the lack of identity documents.[3]
Asylum seekers are unable to sign the medical declaration giving access to free primary medical aid as the MSID is not mentioned in the list of necessary documents for signing a such declaration.[4]
In addition, in the 2020 UN report “Assessment of the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in Ukraine”, asylum seekers were recognised as one of the most vulnerable groups in Ukraine at the time of COVID-19 because of low access to medical assistance, language barrier, low income and have little or no access to personal protection equipment and cannot apply social distancing measures when residing in TAC. They are at higher risk of infection as a result.[5]
[1] Article 11 Law on Principles of Ukrainian Healthcare Legislation; Article 4(2) Law on State Financial Guarantees of Healthcare Services for the Population.
[2] Article 4 Law of Ukraine on State Financial Guarantees of Medical Care for the Population.
[3] UNHCR, Ukraine 2019 Joint Needs Assessment, 2019, available in Ukrainian here.
[4] Part II(6) Procedure for Determining a Primary Care Physician.
[5] United Nations Ukraine, Assessment of the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in Ukraine, 02 December 2020, available here, e.g. 28, 38-39.