Access to Health Care for Undocumented Migrant Children. European Regulations and Practices

Abstract

Health plays a prominent role in the Convention of the Rights of the Child. Article 24 explicitly states the "right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health" where "States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access" (UN/CRC 1989). For children residing in Europe as undocumented migrants, this universal right to health in a majority of European Member States is overruled by national regulations that restrict access to health care to emergency care. Recent studies indicate that only 8 EU member states grant undocumented migrant children the same entitlements as national children. This puts health care professionals into a paradox situation: to save-guard ethical standards, they have to act against national regulations. Documentations on practices from first line healthcare providers show the high degree of vulnerability for undocumented children and underline the need of proper health care and ethically sound action.