Demandes de séjour pour raison médicale des malades étrangers dans le département du Val-d'Oise de 1999 à 2003

Abstract

The requests for residence permits from foreigners who wish to remain in France for health reasons are submitted for review to the county public health medical officer. This article reports on the quantitative and qualitative evolution and progression of these requests in a county located near Paris. The number of requests has drastically increased, from 152 in 1999 to 1,823 in the year 2003. The majority of the applicants were women and individuals from sub-Saharan Africa. HIV infection was the most frequent reason cited for the submission of requests, but its relative proportion has decreased over time from 25% in 1999 to 15% of overall requests made in the year 2003, which is then followed by diabetes (8% of all requests), hypertension (5%), and tuberculosis (4%). The decision handed down from the authorities was favourable for residence based on the need for healthcare in 74% of the cases. The health status of the illegal immigrants remains difficult to determine and systematically track; therefore, the applications for residency granted on medical grounds serve as a practical and efficient means to assess and map the existing situation.