Journal Articles

Should irregular migrants have the right to healthcare? Lessons learnt from the Spanish case

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This article critically evaluates the Royal Decree-Law 16/2012, which regulates migrants’ access
to public healthcare services in Spain. In particular, it examines the political rationale behind
the restriction of migrants’ access to primary and specialised healthcare services. We depart
from the right to health as it is defined in the Spanish and international legislations to
deconstruct three arguments used by the Popular Party government – the administrative
status, high health costs and possible pull effect of welfare policies – to legitimise irregular
migrants’ exclusion from full medical coverage. We contend that the Royal Decree-Law 16/2012
not only fails to meet the requirements of a human rights based approach but it may also be
economically inefficient in the medium to long term.

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Detail Information

Series Title

Critical Social Policy

Call Number

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Publisher

Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage Publications., 2016

Collation

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Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

02610183

Classification

NONE

Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

Volume 36, Issue 2, May 2016; pp. 225–245

Subject(s)

Neoliberalism
Economic Crisis
fundamental human rights
irregular migrants
the right to health

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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