Ensuring migrants' right to health? Case of undocumented children in Israel

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Human Rights Law
• Medical Ethics

Background:

• Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) reversed its policy in 2018, ending 18 years of government-subsidized medical insurance for children of undocumented migrants.
• This policy change restricts access to medical care for thousands of children, limiting it to emergencies only.
• Non-profit organizations report a surge in families seeking assistance for children's healthcare access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of the Israeli Ministry of Health's policy reversal on healthcare access for undocumented migrant children.
• To examine the ethical, public health, and human rights implications of excluding vulnerable children from the public healthcare system.
• To advocate for adherence to international health and legal guidelines.

Main Methods:

• Policy analysis of the Israeli Ministry of Health's decision.
• Review of humanitarian sector reports and case data from organizations like Physicians for Human Rights Israel.
• Examination of public health, human rights, and medical ethics principles in relation to the policy change.

Main Results:

• Thousands of children face restricted access to essential medical services, with care limited to emergencies.
• The policy shift is perceived as politically motivated, aiming to encourage the departure of undocumented communities.
• The humanitarian sector is experiencing increased demand for services to aid families in accessing care.

Conclusions:

• The policy change is detrimental to public health, human rights, and medical ethics.
• The Israeli Medical Association is beginning to oppose the Ministry of Health's stance.
• Adherence to international guidelines and medical community advice is crucial to uphold the right to health for all children.