Ecuadorian Immigrant Groups Concerned About Health Care Reforms

Oviedo. Students Reject Health Care and Educational Cuts

The Spanish government’s decision to withdraw the medical card to illegal immigrants worries Latin America immigrants,including Ecuadorians.

“We are concerned that such measures are affecting a vulnerable group in our community who have fallen, against their will, in an irregularity, situation that has become common by the severe economic crisis and high unemployment, which affects mostly foreigners,” said Aminta Buenaño, Ambassador of Ecuador in Spain.

This occurs in the context of cuts in the sector. The measure is included in the cut of 7,000 million euros in health care as part of the adjustment policy to reduce the current deficit from 8.4 to 5.3% later this year.

The decree states that illegal immigrants will lose their health care insurance card, meaning they will not receive medical care except only for emergencies, from September 1th.

“It is worth remembering that all these immigrants have not only contributed their work to the development of Spain, but also with social security contributions for several years and will now be excluded from this vital service,” added Buenaño.

Until July, immigrants who have obtained health care insurance card in an irregular situation and have a legal condition should regularize their medical situation.

Children and pregnant women maintain full health care coverage, according to Foreign Law. (ARL)