Undocumented Migrants and Access to Health: : The Role of the Finnish Refugee Advice Centre
Nkafu, Stella (2017)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201704285726
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201704285726
Tiivistelmä
Stella, Nkafu. Undocumented Migrants and Access to Health: The Role of the Finnish Refugee Advice Centre. Helsinki, Spring 2017. 57 pages plus appendix. Language: English. Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Degree Programme in Social Services, focus in Community Development. Bachelor of Social Services.
In recent times, undocumented migrants have continued to gain increasing attention around the globe and EU as a vulnerable group subjected to higher health risks. Unlike, France, Britain and others who provide at least access to non-emergency services to undocumented migrants, and most recently Sweden who provides full coverage health care to certain groups of undocumented migrants, Finland is yet to develop a specific legislation with regards to health care for undocumented migrants till date.
Finland has ratified and is bound by the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Based on these, the Finnish Refugee Advice Center through its paperless project, is calling on Finland to respect its commitment to human rights by extending health care benefits to undocumented migrants.
This research oriented thesis seeks to examine the role of the Finnish Refugees Advice Center as a lead advocate of the right to access to health care for undocumented migrants. It is an advocative research aimed at creating awareness by sensitizing the undocumented migrants on their rights and the extent of access to health care available at their disposal. The study is mainly qualitative, based on desk review and analyzes of the current body of literature on undocumented migrants, as well as review of primary data from the administration of interviews.
Findings indicate that the Finnish Refugee Advice Center plays three key roles; (i) Customer service and case by case counselling; (ii) local influence lobbying with local officials; (iii) lobbying within parliament to improve on some aspects of the legislation such as, the most recent law proposal to grant undocumented migrants access to not just emergency care but full access to health care at their own cost. Also to extent free health care to undocumented pregnant women and children.
Finland is therefore in need of a new legislation because that is the only way to ensure that everyone has access to health services which off course is part of their human right. Specific and clear directions on how to implement this new legislation should be given in all local offices for practitioners to have information on what to do. Undocumented migrants should also endeavor to know their rights.
In recent times, undocumented migrants have continued to gain increasing attention around the globe and EU as a vulnerable group subjected to higher health risks. Unlike, France, Britain and others who provide at least access to non-emergency services to undocumented migrants, and most recently Sweden who provides full coverage health care to certain groups of undocumented migrants, Finland is yet to develop a specific legislation with regards to health care for undocumented migrants till date.
Finland has ratified and is bound by the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Based on these, the Finnish Refugee Advice Center through its paperless project, is calling on Finland to respect its commitment to human rights by extending health care benefits to undocumented migrants.
This research oriented thesis seeks to examine the role of the Finnish Refugees Advice Center as a lead advocate of the right to access to health care for undocumented migrants. It is an advocative research aimed at creating awareness by sensitizing the undocumented migrants on their rights and the extent of access to health care available at their disposal. The study is mainly qualitative, based on desk review and analyzes of the current body of literature on undocumented migrants, as well as review of primary data from the administration of interviews.
Findings indicate that the Finnish Refugee Advice Center plays three key roles; (i) Customer service and case by case counselling; (ii) local influence lobbying with local officials; (iii) lobbying within parliament to improve on some aspects of the legislation such as, the most recent law proposal to grant undocumented migrants access to not just emergency care but full access to health care at their own cost. Also to extent free health care to undocumented pregnant women and children.
Finland is therefore in need of a new legislation because that is the only way to ensure that everyone has access to health services which off course is part of their human right. Specific and clear directions on how to implement this new legislation should be given in all local offices for practitioners to have information on what to do. Undocumented migrants should also endeavor to know their rights.