Author
The Refugee Law of Ukraine guarantees the right to medical assistance for asylum applicants. Prior to the medical reform that started in 2016, asylum applicants had access to free emergency medical aid. However, new amendments from 2018 suspended this provision.[1] Currently, access to health care for asylum applicants remains extremely limited. The State ensures coverage for asylum applicants of necessary medical services and medicines related to emergency medical care. However, asylum applicants are required to reimburse the State the full cost of the medical services and medicines provided.[2]
Regarding other health care services, asylum applicants 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. UNHCR has also highlighted a case where an asylum applicant’s scheduled medical operation was cancelled by the hospital because of their lack of identity documents.[3]
Asylum applicants 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 such a declaration.[4]
In addition, in the 2020 UN report “Assessment of the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in Ukraine”, asylum applicants 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 little or no access to personal protection equipment and because they cannot apply social distancing measures when residing in TAC. They are at higher risk of infection as a result.[5]
The Refugee Law of Ukraine guarantees the right to medical assistance for asylum applicants. Prior to the medical reform that started in 2016, asylum applicants had access to free emergency medical aid. However, new amendments from 2018 suspended this provision.[1] Currently, access to health care for asylum applicants remains extremely limited. The State ensures coverage for asylum applicants of necessary medical services and medicines related to emergency medical care. However, asylum applicants are required to reimburse the State the full cost of the medical services and medicines provided.[2]
Regarding other health care services, asylum applicants 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. UNHCR has also highlighted a case where an asylum applicant’s scheduled medical operation was cancelled by the hospital because of their lack of identity documents.[3]
Asylum applicants 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 such a declaration.[4]
In addition, in the 2020 UN report “Assessment of the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in Ukraine”, asylum applicants 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 little or no access to personal protection equipment and because they 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.
[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.