Spain Passes Law to Ensure Healthcare Access for Undocumented Migrants

Undocumented migrants in Spain will now have access to medical care under a new law passed on May 14, 2024. This legislation reverses restrictions imposed in 2012, which hindered migrants’ access to healthcare.

The Spanish government has approved a law guaranteeing healthcare access for all migrants residing in the country, including undocumented immigrants. This law also covers individuals who entered Spain through family reunification, asylum seekers, and beneficiaries of temporary protection. The new measure will take effect in several weeks once it is published in the official journal of the Kingdom of Spain, as reported by the Spanish press.

Historical Context and Reversal of Previous Restrictions

In 2012, a law initiated by the People’s Party, a conservative political group, significantly restricted universal healthcare in Spain. “We want to ban this health exclusion introduced in 2012 and close this wound,” said Minister of Health Mónica García during a press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting.

By 2018, deputies had voted for a decree allowing undocumented immigrants to seek treatment “under the same conditions as people with Spanish nationality.” However, the decree’s implementation varied across different regions of Spain, and many migrants still faced barriers to healthcare access.

Simplified Healthcare Access for Migrants

Under the new law passed in May 2024, migrants will only need to present a signed declaration to their health worker to receive medical care. “They will never be refused health care,” assured the minister. While a third-party payment may still apply in certain cases, this law marks a significant step towards ensuring healthcare access for all migrants.

Spain as a Key Entry Point for Migrants

Spain remains a primary entry point for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and South America. Nearly 20,000 people have arrived in the country by sea and land since the beginning of 2024, a significant increase from the 7,000 arrivals during the same period last year. Many of these migrants aim to build their lives in Spain despite numerous challenges, with an estimated 500,000 people currently undocumented in the country.

Push for Regularization of Undocumented Migrants

A citizens’ petition, initiated by the movement Regularizacion Ya, has garnered 700,000 signatures calling for the regularization of undocumented immigrants in Spain. This petition was brought before Parliament on April 9, and it seeks to regularize all migrants in an irregular situation who arrived in the country before November 1, 2021.

Lamine Sarr, a former undocumented migrant and a representative of Regularizacion Ya, highlighted the plight of these migrants: “We are part of society and we carry out essential work, but we cannot rent an apartment, sign a contract, or have a health card. We are told that we are essential, but we lack the most basic rights.”

The new law represents a critical step towards addressing these issues, ensuring that migrants have access to fundamental rights and public services, including healthcare. The ongoing efforts for regularization aim to further integrate undocumented migrants into Spanish society, recognizing their contributions and providing them with the essential rights they deserve.