Amnesty International welcomes a landmark unanimous decision by the European Committee of Social Rights finding that Sweden has breached the European Social Charter by failing to uphold the right to healthcare without discrimination.
EU citizens have the right to access healthcare in any EU country and to be reimbursed for care abroad by their home country. Short term EU visitors are required to have health insurance to access Swedish healthcare. Vulnerable EU migrants, the majority of whom are from the Roma community are discriminated against as they do not have the right insurance policy in their country of origin.
The decision follows a joint complaint lodged against Sweden in 2023 by Amnesty International and Médecins du Monde International, for systematically violating the rights of vulnerable EU migrants to access healthcare on equal terms.
Amnesty International calls on the Swedish government to now amend legislation to clarify that all EU citizens in the country, regardless of the length of their stay or whether they possess healthcare insurance in their country of origin, have a right to subsidized healthcare and medical services.
“This is a major victory for the human rights of vulnerable EU migrants. The right to health is a fundamental human right, and Sweden is obliged to provide healthcare to all people residing in the country, without discrimination.
