(viii) Special Maternity protection benefit, (ix) Supplementary maternity benefit, and (x) Parental leave benefit.1499 G. Health care Pursuant to Article 30 Asylum Code, beneficiaries of international protection are to enjoy equal access to healthcare, under the same conditions as Greek nationals. Moreover, pursuant to Article 33 L. 4368/2016, uninsured and vulnerable social groups, which include BIPs and stateless persons, are to enjoy free access to public health facilities and are entitled to nursing and medical care, irrespective of whether they hold a valid residence permit or whether a decision is pending on an application for renewal of international protection status, or on an administrative appeal or judicial remedy against a decision rejecting the application for renewal, or at the time when there is a right to an administrative appeal or judicial remedy.1500 Despite the favourable legal framework, actual access to health care services is hindered, in practice, by significant shortages of resources and capacity for both foreigners and the local population, as a result of years of austerity policies followed in Greece, as well as a lack of adequate cultural mediators. For BIPs subject to the “old procedure” under the competence of the Hellenic Police, another specific issue, in GCR’s experience, is that the residence permit they receive in the form of a “booklet”, poses added challenges in the issuance of AMKA, as this old residence permit contains a number written in a different format than the new residence permits. Hence, the civil servants did not know how to process the issuance of AMKA. Meanwhile, administrative obstacles with regard to the issuance and in particular the activation of a Social Security Number (AMKA), promote an increasingly restrictive environment that impedes access to health care. Since December 2023, pursuant to article 6 paragraph 5 point (bb) of JMD Φ80320/109864/14.12.2023, in order for third country nationals, including BIPs, to be able to activate their AMKA –without which activation they cannot have access to the rights attached to holding an AMKA– they need to cumulatively fulfil the following set of requirements: hold (a) a valid passport of a third country or a valid travel document, (b) a valid residence title in the country with the right of access to the labour market, and (c) proof of residence in the country. As proof of residence in the country, it is mandatory to also submit a certificate of employment (βεβαίωση πρόσληψης) from an employer or an employment contract uploaded in the Information System of the Ministry of Employment (ERGANI) or a certificate of commencement of self – employment by the competent Tax Office, or a certificate of studies in Greece, with the latter being added as an alternative in Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Employment and Social Security on 1 April 2024. 1501 Notably this requirement does not apply to either Greek or EU citizens, introducing an impermissible division with regards to the treatment of BIPs, in breach of applicable law, and with concerning material manifestations, as BIPs who have not yet secured lawful employment are effectively barred from activating their AMKA, are in turn systemically excluded from public healthcare. The impact is particularly severe for beneficiaries unable to work due to health conditions and who are, in turn, also excluded from accessing the benefits of the Organisation of Welfare Benefits and Social Solidarity (OPEKA). 1502 1499 1500 1501 1502 Organisation for Welfare Benefits and Social Solidarity (OPEKA), 14.03.2025, available in Greek here. Article 33 par. 2 point ix of L. 4368/2016. Ministry of Employment and Social Security, Guidelines for the Issuance and Use of the Social Security Number - Annex B: Documents Required for the Issuance and Activation of an AMKA, prot. no.Φ80320/25192, available in Greek at: https://tinyurl.com/42pj3zft, p.23 of 59. Also see RSA and Stiftung Pro Asyl, Recognised refugees in Greece 2025, March 2025, available at: https://tinyurl.com/3emyk5w3, pp. 22-24. 290