Type: Acts of the European Union: European Parliament Resolution Impact of the crisis on access to care for vulnerable groups

Authority: European Authorities - European Union: European Parliament

Date: 07/04/2013

Subject: The European Parliament considers that many of the short-term cost-reduction measures currently being implemented, such as the introduction of up-front access to healthcare fees, higher out-of- pocket expenditure or exclusion from access to care of vulnerable groups, have not been fully assessed for their wider social and economic consequences or potentially discriminatory effects and long-term implications, including dangers to public health and possible consequences for life expectancy; underlines the fact that such measures have disproportionate negative impacts on vulnerable groups; it calls on the Member States to place a special focus on the most vulnerable groups, to remove access barriers, improve and strengthen take-up and preventive measures at an early stage in order to return to a rights-based approach, and prevent to long-term damage and costs stemming from non-action; it calls on the Member States to carry out impact assessments to ensure that measures taken that might impact the most vulnerable are in compliance with the principles laid down in the EU Charter for Fundamental Rights and in conformity with Directive 2000/43/EC implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin.

Classification: Dignity - Equality - Art. 21 Non discrimination - Art. 23 Equality between men and women - Art. 24 Children’s rights - Art. 25 Rights of the elderly - Art. 26 Rights of the disabled - Solidarity - Art. 34 Social security - Art. 35 Preventive health care

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