Doctors criticise Finland’s proposal to withhold healthcare from migrants

Doctors have urged Finland’s rightwing government to change “problematic and damaging” plans to ban undocumented people from accessing non-emergency healthcare, warning it could cost lives.

The government, which includes the far-right Finns party and is led by the conservative National Coalition party leader, Petteri Orpo, has proposed reversing a 2023 law that enables undocumented migrants to access full healthcare, arguing it is aligned with plans to cut spending and immigration.

But the Finnish medical association has argued against the plans, which it said were “very problematic and damaging in many ways”.

Related: Finland’s ‘most rightwing government ever’ to cut spending and immigration

Although there would be some exemptions – including children, people whose health is classified as “extremely vulnerable” and people with disabilities – doctors warn the impact of the new restrictions could be life-threatening, as people with conditions such as diabetes or asthma could be left without treatment.

Aino Tuomi-Nikula, an adviser for Physicians for Social Responsibility, said: “Those who tabled this proposal pretend that we don’t have enough money for everyone and that full access to healthcare would invite more people to Finland. We know this is not true, and that it’s actually cheaper to treat conditions in advance by primary healthcare than leaving them to emergency care. This measure is a political stunt to crack down on marginalised people and bank on public fear of migrants.”

Louise Bonneau, an advocacy officer for the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants, said: “Healthcare is a basic human right, not a privilege reserved for some. This law, if passed, would lead to suffering and betray Finland’s commitment to equality and justice. It must be rejected.”

Physicians for Social Responsibility have said the amendment would have a negative impact on undocumented people’s health, “increase human suffering” and was likely to ultimately increase healthcare costs.

“Doctors and nurses must be able to do their work ethically and sustainably, and the operation of healthcare units should not be made even more difficult,” they said in a statement to the government.

The proposal, which was strongly backed by the Finns party, had been scheduled to be presented to parliament next week. But the ministry of social affairs and health said on Tuesday it would not proceed until after Christmas, saying the proposal “needs more time for preparation”.

Under the amendment, access to vaccinations and treatments against some infectious diseases, viewed as a threat to public health, would be exempt.