Commission supports IOM Greece for migrants’ access to health

From April 2021 to February 2023, the EU has provided 25.3 million EUR under an Emergency Support Instrument (ESI) to support Greece’s health system during the COVID 19 pandemic. These funds were used specifically for the reception of migrants to Greece. Implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the project helped the national health system respond to COVID-19 in accommodation structures for migrants and unaccompanied migrant children. It also supported referral hospitals and primary health centers in areas with large migrant populations.

This additional health response was due to the overwhelming effect of the COVID 19 pandemic. With the Greek Ministry of Health and the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum, IOM aimed to enhance preparedness of the overstretched national health care system and support medical personnel deployed across the country, also engaged with migrants’ communities.

Essential medical equipment and medication was provided to migrants’ reception and identification centers, Greek public hospitals and primary health care facilities.

Eight fully equipped new mobile medical units improve access to health services for migrants who live in reception facilities on mainland Greece. These mobile units include a microbiological clinic, a radiology unit, consultation rooms and a four-bed capacity hospitalisation room. Special provisions for unaccompanied migrant children, including two medical minivans, were for the primary health care of this vulnerable group.

Greek public hospitals, primary health facilities and refugee reception centres across the country were supplied with intensive care units, x-ray machines, ventilators, ICU monitors and other medical equipment by IOM, with guidance from the Ministry of Health.

The procurement of mobile units, medical vans for unaccompanied minors and supply of medication and medical equipment provided by IOM was funded by the Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) of the Commission.

Read more about actions financed by the Emergency Support Instrument.