ICAR Foundation will be part of the National Coalition for the Integration of Refugees proposed today by the Government, which aims at overcoming the difficulties refugees encounter during the process of integration in the Romanian Society.
One of the most important issues is the refugees’ access to basic healthcare. “I suggest the creation of a working group made up of the College of Physicians, National Health Insurance House (CNAS), Ministry of Health and NGOs with competences in the field, such as ICAR Foundation, in order to seek solutions for the training of Romanian physicians who will provide services to this new group of beneficiaries”, declared Dr Camelia Doru, President of ICAR Foundation, during the working meeting of the Government with the non-governmental organisations with experience in providing services for refugees.
“The physicians in the Romanian health system should be trained, by ongoing training programmes, in providing services for refugees because they are not aware of the particular work conditions – language barriers, psychological barriers, presence of an interpreter, cultural issues influencing the provided medical care”, added Dr Doru.
The President of ICAR Foundation reminded that Romania was subject to an infringement procedure for not having implemented yet in the national law the European directive on reception conditions for asylum seekers. “The harmonisation of the law, as required by European directives, must create the legal framework for our activity. There are express provisions regarding vulnerable groups in need of protection and specialised services, including victims of torture, which are of particular interest for us”, stated Dr Camelia Doru.
The President of ICAR Foundation reminded that Romania was subject to an infringement procedure for not having implemented yet in the national law the European directive on reception conditions for asylum seekers. “The harmonisation of the law, as required by European directives, must create the legal framework for our activity. There are express provisions regarding vulnerable groups in need of protection and specialised services, including victims of torture, which are of particular interest for us”, stated Dr Camelia Doru. The coalition proposed by Prime Minister Victor Ponta will be made up of working groups, which will include representatives of ministries and the civil society: · One working group, which will include representatives of ministries, will manage urgent issues. · The second group will handle legal issues and will include representatives of the Ministry of Justice in order to solve the problems refugees encounter when accessing healthcare, education and benefits through banks. · The third group will deal with medium- and long-term integration issues and it will involve city halls. · The fourth group, mainly formed of NGOs, will handle public information on refugees’ rights. By Wednesday, 7 October, the organisations of the civil society that wish to participate in these activities are expected to express their intentions and, at the end of this month, the Prime Minister will meet for the first time with the working groups.