A research has said lots of asylum seekers who are waiting on the administration to consider whether they can be in Australia find it hard to get medical care services since they are not qualified for subsidised treatment under Medicare. Analysts from the University of NSW questioned a small number of community-based asylum seekers who revealed concerns covering private physicians and drugs. Many were required to wait many days to see a GP and for that reason experienced emotional stress, and also a deterioration in their health. One asylum seeker who had a history of heart related illnesses stopped using his blood pressure treatment because could no more afford to pay for it.
The researchers said while federal government policies on offering medical care to community-based asylum seekers had improved, the federal government should expand Medicare eligibility to broaden the supply of health services. "Access to primary care will be enhanced by advancing Medicare eligibility to all asylum seekers," the study team from the university's Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity wrote in a study released by the Medical Journal of Australia. "This is unlikely to add significantly to the cost of the medical care program, and would bring Australia's policy into line with that of comparable nations."
Over 8000 asylum seekers lodged protection visas in 2009/10. The majority of arrived in Australia on valid visas and lived locally when their applications were processed. However, while many had a range of illness issues, including continual and transmittable medical conditions as well as psychological problems, they weren't allowed Medicare services.
The Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme managed by the Australian Red Cross provides some assistance to community-based asylum seekers needing to access health services. However experts said not all asylum seekers were allowed to get support under the system. When they surveyed the number of 12 asylum seekers from South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia, the Middle East and East Asia, who were now based in NSW, only several were qualified to apply for Medicare.
Those people that were ineligible were unwilling to visit a physician since they couldn't afford the expenses. Others who accessed a GP through charities commonly were forced to wait months for an appointment, with one expectant mother made to wait six months time. Nurses and doctors questioned by the research workers also reported that negotiating pro-bono care for asylum seekers was challenging and time-consuming.
A popular immigration lawyer in Sydney and refugee advocate Mr. Christopher Levingston said that the administration must open up Medicare accessibility legal rights for the asylum seekers. "Not accomplishing so would just deteriorate the situation", he added.
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