Bangladeshi migrants protest in Spain demanding free healthcare

In Spain, social and human rights organisations and migrants from several countries including Bangladesh have formed a human chain demanding that healthcare be made open to all.

Hundreds of local indigenous people and migrants, as well as expatriate Bangladeshis, took part in a World Health Day event held in front of the Ministry of Health, Food, and Services in Madrid on Thursday (April 7).

Expatriate Bangladeshis took part in the human chain and rally under the supervision of Asociación Valiente Bangla, a Bangladeshi human rights organisation.

There was a demand at the time for health services for people from various countries, including Bangladeshis, who were living in Spain without valid documents.

The event was attended by leaders of human rights organisations such as the Spanish organisation La Sociedad Española de Salud Pública y Administración Sanitaria (SESPAS), Sanidad Universal, Red Interlavapies, and Red de Solidaridad.

According to the speakers at the meeting, illegal immigrants in Spain who do not have valid papers are deprived of good jobs and health care on a regular basis. Illegal immigrants' legitimate demands in Spain have yet to be met.

They claim that under the new health law, both legal and illegal immigrants are exploited in different ways. They demanded that the new health law be repealed and that everyone have access to the open public health system.

The programme came to an end with the submission of a memorandum to the Ministry of Health. In addition to Bangladesh, migrants from Morocco, Africa, Senegal, and other countries participated.