THE PORTUGUESE APPROACH ON UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE DURING THE PANDEMIC

Abstract

Despite being an old problem, the current coronavirus outbreak has shed a light on the lack of access to proper healthcare by undocumented migrants, which is one of the many violations of fundamental rights they face not only in Europe, but also all over the world. However, amidst the global response to the pandemic, the Portuguese policy of granting those migrants full citizenship rights in order to ensure full healthcare coverage has been a much-applauded one. It was of great value to public health and to the protection of other fundamental rights of migrants. This essay addresses the subject from the perspective of the European Union framework, presenting an overview of migrants’ access to healthcare in Member States, especially in Portugal. Finally, it raises the question of the Portuguese approach of granting undocumented migrants access to healthcare during the pandemic can be the first step towards a more inclusive standard policy not only in Portugal, but also in Europe.