Sudanese asylum seeker dies for lack of affordable care

Ido Efrati

27-year-old Sudanese asylum seeker died at Be'er after failing Sheva hospital
to raise the NIS to

needed 000,6

oxygen generator that would have enabled his release from hospitaland

buy

an

infecremoval from possible tions,to which he was particusensitive. Since he was larly unable to receive treatment outside the Soroka Medical Center, he was to reobliged main there for two months instead of the two days that were necessary. He eventualto an infection. lysuccumbed M., who lived in Arad, suffered from Kartagener dissyndrome, rare genetic order that expresses as lung disease. M., who was hospitalized frequently, was admitted to the emergency department at Soroka on August 18 due to deterioration in his condition. He was placedin the internal medicine ward, suffering from weakness, cough and shortness of breath. He was stabilized and the staff attempted to release him after few days, but held off until itwas clear he would receive medication and obtain an oxygen generator. As an asylum seeker
status, legal any community
no es,

with
not in

M.

was

hospital not only to voluntary ingto nonprofit organizations appealed and other aid agencies, but all but also to the organizations their attempts were in vain. Health Ministry. "There is The Physicians for Human problem in the overall treatment of peoplewithout legal Rightsorganization managed to find medication for him, but the ministry said standing," no oxygen in response. "Currently generator could be they
found. An attempt to borrow one from the Yad Sarah volunteer failed, since agency bank account, depositand credit card were required. The hospitalizedman had none of these. The only option was to buy one for NIS .000,6 for Human Physicians funds, Rightswere collecting but M. died before sufficient amount raised. was Throughout his prolonged the staff exhospitalization, that leaving pressedconcerns receive
treatment

health servicand nor could he joinone of the health maintenance organizations. During his twomonth stay at the hospital, social services desperately sought solution by appeal-

in the department in his sensitive condition exposed him to infectious agents, so the oxygen generaobtaining tor was urgent. Hospitalofficials say M.'s disease was terminal and that the staff went beyond their duty in their care for him. "There the is direct link between duration of hospitalization and exposure to infections in so that the intent hospital, is always to release patients with chronic diseases as soon as possible, for further treatment in their communities," said. hospital spokesperson "However, without the generator the staff could not approve his release. Social workers at the hospital tried to obtain one from several organizations but to no avail/' After two months, he was rushed to the intensive care unit in critical condition after contracting an infection that led to respiratory failure, from which he died. has been Soroka treating Sudanese and Eritreans with no status as matter of course in recent eiyears ther from injuries sustained during their infiltration or from internal diseases contracted duringincarceration. The numbers dwindled as the fence on the southern border with Egypt was completed. Between January and September ,3102 55 peoplewithout

him

at the Health
was

This Ministry. sick individual. It is problematic to release such person into the community with no support services. Out of pity and humaneness, it decided to leave him in was the hospital. It should be noted that Soroka continued to give the appropriate care to patient in his condition." According to Shahar Shoham, head of the division for migrants and peoplewithout status at PHR, the case legal isfurther proof that migrants' civil status should be disconnected from their social benefits. "Every Israeliisinsured to all services. with access are There migrants here, some with children, and they should also have such access." If M. belongedto an HMO, he would have gone home and received the generator, probablysavinghis life." The law defining patients'
very

rights guarantees

treatment

status legal

were

hospitalfurther

ized at Soroka, and 180 treated in ER. In M.'s case, the

for allat emergency facilities, regardlessof status or payment. "There are many cases where hospitals appealto us," adds, "but patients Shoham are not released since they requirefurther treatment. If theyare released, theyreturn for lack of treatment. quickly Each day at an emergency The soward costs NIS .000,3 lution is to allow them access to community services. There is no need for new clinics or separate systems, or for new The minister has legislation. the authority to applythe law
to

migrants."
committee

dealingwith

in

emer-

in hospitals, as gency rooms well as at dedicated clinic in south Tel Aviv. The Medical Administration at the ministry is tryingto find creative solutions for different cases. The Sudanese patient was for two months hospitalized despite his lack of official status, with the understanding that he couldn't be released and abandoned, given his serious condition. His case and discussed was reported
...

met with Health Minister Yael German last June. She said that the state is obliged to help and that she would look into expandingtheir medical benefits.Shoham says that so far there has been no change. There are currently

foreign workers

000,052 peoplewithout legal standing in Israel, Shoham of whom are 000,55 says, asylum seekers mostlyfrom Eritrea and Sudan who cannot be expelled. further 000,09 have overstayed their visa
were 000,07 permits,while broughthere as laborers. All

these groups
no access

to any

have limited or health ser-

vice