Immigration Detention No Place for Children - AMA Position Statement on the Health Care of Asylum Seekers and Refugees
AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said today there should be greater compassion and fairness in providing health care for refugees and people in immigration detention, especially for children.
Dr Haikerwal made the comments when releasing the AMA's Position Statement on the Health Care of Asylum Seekers and Refugees at the Asylum Seeker Health Service in Melbourne.
Dr Haikerwal said while the Migration Act has been amended so that children should only be detained as a last resort, unaccompanied children must never again be detained in immigration detention and accompanied children should be detained for no more than one month.
"The negative impact of detention on children's mental health is now well known and all governments must do all in their power to ensure such inhumane treatment of children does not happen again," Dr Haikerwal said.
The AMA recommends that people seeking asylum in Australia have the right to necessary medical care without discrimination, regardless of their citizenship, visa status or ability to pay.
"Asylum seekers must be treated with compassion, respect and dignity. They must receive the same level of health care as Australian citizens, with access to Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme," Dr Haikerwal said.
"Asylum seekers on certain bridging visas have no Medicare access, no right to work, and no income.
"These are some of the most vulnerable people seeking asylum. Many are women and children.
"Australia must urgently find an alternative to indeterminate periods of detention.
"Until then, the AMA wants the Federal Government to set in law an absolute maximum duration that an asylum seeker can spend in detention.
"Living conditions must be humane, including access to unencumbered good quality ongoing health care and emergency and specialist care, if needed, provided by the community health system," Dr Haikerwal said.
The Position Statement covers the health and welfare of asylum seekers, community based asylum seekers, the role and responsibility of medical practitioners, immigration detention facilities (including issues about children and hunger strikers), and Temporary Protection Visas.
A copy of the AMA's Position Statement on the Health Care of Asylum Seekers and Refugees is attached and is available on the AMA's website at www.ama.com.au.
22 November 2005
CONTACT: Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306