Access to Medical Care
Delays, Low Capacity & Lack of Translation
Access to medical care is a persistent issue across PRCDs in
mainland Greece. CPT reports since 2013 have highlighted this
problem, yet a lack of appropriate action has been taken to align
with the CPTs recommendations. AEMY, a public limited company,
has been the medical provider of detention centres since 2017,
when the responsibility was transferred to the Ministry of Health
and the Health Unit SA.[225] However, medical staff shortages,
including doctors, nurses, psychologists and translators have been
frequently reported,[226] leading to the CPT raising extreme
concern over the public health risks associated with PRDCs in
Greece. Our research substantiated these arguments; only 20% of
respondents reported satisfactory access to medical care, and 80%
reported either extremely limited access for urgent cases whereby
individuals would be transferred to hospital, or none whatsoever.
Of all the cases we have analysed in our database, in all languages
of exchange, access to medical and psychological care is one of the
priorities of our clients and one of the main challenges.
Multiple barriers were identified with regards to medical care,
including a critical lack of doctors or translators - in most facilities
there was just one doctor but in some centres there was only the
presence of nurses - resulting in low capacity for care. As a result,
appointments were available at limited times, creating long delays
for individuals who needed urgent support. According to Article
16(c) RD, emergency healthcare and essential treatment of illness
should be provided, and Article 51(7a) of Greek law[227] states
that applicants should receive appropriate medical care during
detention. Yet some respondents in Corinth reported delays of
more than five months. Not dissimilar to the issues of inadequate
access to legal translation, medical translation was rarely available
to people in detention, who often had to use the support of fellow
detainees to understand the doctor. This raises additional
concerns regarding patient confidentiality.
In addition, the people we spoke to frequently pointed to the
dismissive attitude of doctors, who only responded to absolute
emergencies, or provided basic painkillers. Even in emergency
situations, the lack of immediate response to certain incidents by
the police lead to medical actors being called too late. For
There have been instances where
two people have to committed
suicide. That happened in the
camp. The person was suffering, so
he called the police, the person
went to the washroom inside and
then he hanged himself. And he
died. From Pakistan. There have
been instances of at least two or
three people who have died
because of an emergency. We call
the police. By the time the police
arrive, it is too late.
Emmanuel, Corinth
It must be a really serious condition
in order for them to take it
seriously. There is a doctor but the
best thing he is gonna do is give
you something to calm you. So
people beat themselves in order to
take them to the hospital. So
probably they damage themselves.
So that's why they take them to the
hospital.
Iliyes, Corinth
Because they just take the
people to the hospital that stab
themselves, because a lot of
people were doing it inside and I
wasn't the kind of guy who was
hurting myself so everything
was fine, but I didn't like it, I
wanted to be treated well, but
in the same time I could not hurt
myself to have his rights.
Walid, Paranesti
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