Healthcare professionals at a clinic in Sydney have reported that approximately one-third of the refugee patients they serve lack access to Medicare. While many refugees can receive complimentary health care during the lengthy process of awaiting permanent residency in Australia, others find themselves ineligible due to the stipulations of their visas.
Medical staff have noted that patients frequently arrive with severe health issues that could have been avoided with timely medical intervention. A rising number of asylum seekers are facing significant barriers to essential preventative health care, according to this group of Sydney-based doctors and nurses.
Though numerous refugees can avail themselves of free health services while their permanent residency applications are being processed—a duration that can extend for several years—some individuals are classified as ineligible based on their specific visa types. For instance, those on temporary protection visas can access Medicare and work for up to three years while awaiting permanent residency, whereas individuals holding bridging visas may encounter restrictions that limit both employment and health care access.
Others may start off with Medicare eligibility but lose it during the waiting period for their visa decision. One such case is Raj, a pseudonym used for safety reasons, who escaped peril in his native country nearly a decade ago but has yet to achieve permanent residency in Australia. The terms of his temporary visa prohibit him, along with his wife and 10-year-old daughter, who was born in Australia, from accessing Medicare.
Raj’s health took a downturn three years ago when he was hospitalized due to severe chest pain and subsequently diagnosed with heart failure. “I was informed that my heart is functioning at only 25 percent capacity,” he shared. He was recommended for an automated implantable cardioverter defibrillator, a device designed to monitor and regulate irregular heartbeats. However, without Medicare or private health insurance, he found himself unable to afford the necessary surgery.
After experiencing thoughts of self-harm, Raj was directed to the Asylum Seekers Centre in Sydney, which provides healthcare services to refugees. Through this center, he obtained a referral for the surgery, which includes fee waivers for those requiring urgent medical attention. He also receives assistance for heart medication, which costs him over $700 for a two-week supply. He expressed concern for the health of his wife, who has fibroids, and his daughter, stating, “I can’t afford to take her to the GP every time she falls ill; I can only manage to buy her some Panadol.”
Emily Cumming, a nurse and manager at the Asylum Seekers Centre health clinic, highlighted that many patients present with conditions that could have been effectively managed with earlier intervention. It is estimated that one-third of refugees visiting the center lack Medicare coverage. Ms. Cumming recounted an instance of a pregnant woman who delayed seeking medical care due to ineligibility for Medicare. “It was discovered that the baby was larger than the normal weight, and all of this could have been identified much earlier in the pregnancy,” she remarked.
In another case, a woman was admitted to the hospital for complications during childbirth after being denied antenatal care at a different clinic because of her ineligibility for Medicare. “I firmly believe that all of this could have been avoided,” Ms. Cumming stated.
Dr. Mark Harris, a general practitioner who has volunteered at the Asylum Seekers Centre for over 25 years, lamented that access to healthcare has remained “depressingly unchanged.” He pointed out that patients suffering from mental health issues and chronic conditions like diabetes experience significantly poorer long-term health outcomes when their symptoms go untreated. “We are encountering individuals with complex health needs due to missed opportunities for early treatment,” he noted.
Professor Harris and Ms. Cumming are part of a collective of over 130 healthcare professionals who have reached out to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to express their concerns regarding the treatment denied to patients based on their Medicare status. “We advocate for asylum seekers to be granted access to Medicare, enabling them to utilize community health services more effectively,” Professor Harris emphasized.
The Department of Home Affairs has been approached for comments on this matter. Professor Harris also pointed out that refugees and asylum seekers in the United Kingdom benefit from access to free National Health Service (NHS) care while their residency applications are actively processed. “While there are some limitations, their situation is considerably more favorable than what we face in Australia,” he remarked.
Ms. Cumming advocated for improved access to Medicare, asserting that this would alleviate the long-term strain on the healthcare system and support vulnerable communities. “Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right, and it is deeply troubling that we are denying individuals access to basic health services,” she stated. “We witness these patients presenting with preventable conditions daily. It is profoundly unjust for them and for the dedicated nurses who care for them.”
