(F) Lack of access to healthcare and psychosocial support within RICs Access to necessary healthcare and psychosocial support is guaranteed for persons undergoing reception and identification procedures under Greek law (Art. 41, 4939/2022). However, our research indicates that while all applicants undergo some form of medical check during the screening procedure within mainland RICs, there are shortcomings in the provision of adequate follow-up treatment following screening, particularly regarding access to psychologists within the RICs. 67% of people who received treatment from an on-site doctor reported being dissatisfied. In most cases, this was due to inability to adequately communicate their medical needs due to a reported lack of interpreters present at the appointment, and/or not being provided with the correct type or amount of medicine. In certain cases, respondents reported feeling that medical checks were rushed and doctors did not provide sufficient follow-up treatment. Despite a high proportion of respondents reporting mental health related challenges during their registration at a RIC, only one person reported that they visited a psychologist during the screening and registration procedure, and had to wait for 10 days to do so despite suffering from PTSD and being a survivor of torture. In several interviews, respondents reported that they did not know whether a psychologist was present at the facility, how to request such support, or did not feel comfortable to do so. Particularly within Malakasa RIC, lack of access to healthcare provision was linked to reports of challenges in physically accessing the area of the facility where services are present, with respondents detailing their isolation in the accommodation area of the facility and the inability to freely access services when needed. “I told them [the authorities at Malakasa RIC] that I did not have a good situation or felt well because I had not taken my medicines yet. There was an interpreter and he said that they responded: "This is not our problem, it is your problem. You should have known that you were coming here, and you should have brought your medicines with you.” Female respondent from Afghanistan, 29 years As reported in a meeting with the European Commission in March 2023, lack of doctors within the RICs has at times led to delays in the processing of applicants, increasing the backlog at Malakasa specifically.⁹⁹ Insufficient access to healthcare and a lack of doctors has been a chronic issue across Greece’s mainland reception facilities and is a widely reported practice in PRDCs.¹⁰⁰ 36