Meeting with Human Rights Commissioner

A meeting with the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, Dunja Mijatovic, was held by the Minister of Health, Andreas Xanthos, during her four-day visit to Greece.

At the meeting attended by HCDCP Vice-President and PHILOS Coordinator, Agis Terzidis, the Commissioner had the opportunity to be informed about the measures taken regarding refugee/migrant health care as well as about the initiatives implemented so far in order to avoid refugee crisis turn into a public health issue.

The Minister of Health said that through PHILOS almost 700 people were recruited to provide health services in open camps and public health structures. He stressed that in the coming August there will be a significant reinforcement of that structures through the recruitment of additional staff and further funding from national resources. That increase in staff will allow for an even more comprehensive approach to refugee health problems better targeted to chronically and mentally ill, disabled persons, victims of violence and torture, children, pregnant women, etc.