…Doctors have urged Finland’s rightwing government to change “problematic and damaging” plans to ban undocumented people from accessing non-emergency healthcare, warning it could cost lives.

The government, which includes the far-right Finns party and is led by the conservative National Coalition party leader, Petteri Orpo, has proposed reversing a 2023 law that enables undocumented migrants to access full healthcare, arguing it is aligned with plans to cut spending and immigration.

But the Finnish medical association has argued against the plans, which it said were “very problematic and damaging in many ways”.

Although there would be some exemptions – including children, people whose health is classified as “extremely vulnerable” and people with disabilities – doctors warn the impact of the new restrictions could be life-threatening, as people with conditions such as diabetes or asthma could be left without treatment.

Aino Tuomi-Nikula, an adviser for Physicians for Social Responsibility, said: “Those who tabled this proposal pretend that we don’t have enough money for everyone and that full access to healthcare would invite more people to Finland. We know this is not true, and that it’s actually cheaper to treat conditions in advance by primary healthcare than leaving them to emergency care. This measure is a political stunt to crack down on marginalised people and bank on public fear of migrants.”

Louise Bonneau, an advocacy officer for the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants, said: “Healthcare is a basic human right, not a privilege reserved for some. This law, if passed, would lead to suffering and betray Finland’s commitment to equality and justice. It must be rejected.”

Source: Doctors criticise Finland’s proposal to withhold healthcare from migrants | Finland | The Guardian