AJPH Global News

The German Medical Association is proposing to give free access to Germany’s public health insurance system for the 1.1 million refugees that arrived in 2015 and those that are expected in 2016. Doctors have been offering voluntary nonsalaried health care to refugees, but now they want public health insurance to cover the cost. Currently, refugees usually need a local social service authorization before visiting a doctor. With a refugee e-health card, they would be able to visit doctors of their choice. Only 4 states—North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen, Hamburg, and Schleswig-Holstein—currently deliver e-health cards to refugees. Ideas to improve medical care to the numerous refugees include “recruiting retired doctors and nurses, using doctors and other medical personnel from among refugees, improving vaccination for refugees, and creating an expert committee to advise the government on medical care for refugees.” The German Medical Association also opposes deporting refugees with mental illnesses