3.6.3.3. Health
Reception authorities continued to observe an overall deterioration in applicants’ physical and mental health, which was also documented in civil society sources.615Still the lack of medical staff continued to be a major concern voiced by international organisations, national ombudspersons, courts and civil society organisations, for example in Bulgaria,616 Croatia617and Greece (especially on the islands).618
Among national initiatives, the National Reception Office (ONA) in Luxembourg initiated four AMIF-funded projects. Three of the projects aim to improve mental health services, while one provides information and services around birth. France launched a call for proposals to provide additional healthcare support to asylum applicants in the reception system. In total, 35 projects were selected for EUR 2.6 million. The only legislative change was reported in Croatia, where applicants may now receive medical care beyond emergency situations if requested by a doctor619(see Section 4).
- 615Doctors without Borders | Médecins Sans Frontières. (2023, November 2). In plain sight: The human cost of migration policies at Greek sea borders. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/280831/in-plain-sight_-the-human-cost-of-migration-policies-at-greek-sea-borders.pdf
- 616Council on Refugee Women in Bulgaria. (2023). Input to the Asylum Report 2024.
- 617Ombudswoman of Croatia | Pučke Pravobraniteljice. (2024, May 15). Reports.
- 618European Ombudsman. (2023, June 7). Decision in strategic inquiry OI/3/2022/MHZ on how the European Commission ensures respect for fundamental rights in EU-funded migration management facilities in Greece. https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/decision/en/170792 Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights [ECtHR], M.S.S. v Belgium and Greece, 30696/09, ECLI:CE:ECHR:2011:0121JUD003069609 , 21 January 2011.
- 619Zakon o izmjenama i dopunama Zakona o međunarodnoj i privremenoj zaštiti [Law on Amendments to the Law on International and Temporary Protection]. (22 March 2023). https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2023_03_33_581.html