Doctors without Borders (MSF) has called on the international community to scale-up healthcare funding for Syrian refugees in the region. They warned that medical care in Jordan for Syrian is becoming out of reach due to recent fiscal measures by the government.
"A recent decision in Jordan to increase public health care fees for Syrian refugees could impact their access to healthcare and lead to increased vulnerability,' said MSF in a statement.
Increased cost of public healthcare
The cancellation of subsidized healthcare services for Syrian refugees living in Jordan earlier in February now means they must pay 80 per cent of the 'foreigner rate' for healthcare - a rate which increases the cost of public healthcare by two to five times. "We are concerned that Syrian families could start to de-prioritise seeking healthcare for themselves or their family members because of other needed living expenses, such as paying rent," said Brett Davis, MSF's Head of Mission in Jordan.
"As adaptive measures, Syrians may resort to self-medication or other alternative less costly means that could be inadequate or even harmful."Syrians had already been experiencing difficulties in accessing basic healthcare since a previous decision in November 2014 to cancel free healthcare services for Syrians living outside refugee camps in Jordan.
Guarantee healthcare funding for Syrians
According to a health access survey conducted by MSF in 2016, 30.2% of adults needing medical care reported that they did not approach medical services with the main reason cited as unaffordable. This latest change will further exacerbate Syrians' vulnerability. Through talking to patients enrolled in its programmes, MSF has learned that a number of them are struggling to access healthcare because of the increased fees.The organization said that the greatest concern for many is being able to afford emergency healthcare or surgery, such as a caesarian section which now costs over 700JOD (€803). The policy change has also driven more Syrians towards seeking free-of-charge healthcare, as a notable 20 per cent increase in the demand for MSF's maternity and primary healthcare programmes was seen in March.
Some patients are travelling from further afield to find free services. "Ahead of the Brussels conference, MSF urges the international community to step up and guarantee healthcare funding for non-camp Syrian refugees in Jordan as a priority," said the organization. MSF will continue to monitor closely the health situation of the Syrian refugees and their health needs through our free-of-charge medical programmes in the country; our non-communicable diseases projects in Ramtha and Irbid; our maternity and neonatal hospital in Irbid; our mental health programme in Mafraq; primary healthcare support in Ramtha; and reconstructive surgery in Amman. Jordan is home to morethan 1.3 million Syrian refugees, who are living in main cities as well as in rural areas.