Sunday, September 2, 2012

Illegal immigrants in Spain to lose right to government-subsidized public healthcare

No freebies for illegals.
(Guardian) About 150,000 immigrants living in Spain will lose their right to public health services on Saturday as the recession-hit country tries to save money. But doctors warn that excluding immigrants from the health system will have a wider impact on ordinary Spaniards' health.

The move by Mariano Rajoy's conservative People's party government has provoked anger among doctors and some regional governments that deliver public health to Spaniards.

Amnesty International and other NGOs have accused the government of breaking international agreements by excluding a significant section of the population – immigrants without proper residence permits – from public healthcare.

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