Hamburg's uninsured migrants left without medical care after emergency fund collapses

Uninsured migrants in Hamburg have been denied essential medical treatments since mid-May. The city’s emergency assistance program ran out of funds, leaving many without access to care. Medinetz, a network supporting these individuals, has condemned the austerity measures behind the shortage. The Clearing Office at Hamburg’s Refugee Center helps uninsured people access healthcare or funds urgent treatments through a municipal emergency program. In 2024, it approved 678 out of 781 applications, spending around €718,000 on treatments and prescriptions.

Demand for consultations has risen sharply, from 284 in 2012 to over 2,300 in 2024. Yet the emergency fund has remained chronically underfunded. Initially, €500,000 was allocated, but in May, only a fraction of an additional €500,000 request was approved. The fund is now empty for new cases and will not provide further support for the rest of 2025.

The Senate states that the Clearing Office is a voluntary service, with funding dependent on budgetary approval. It cites fiscal constraints as a key factor in shaping the program’s future. Medinetz insists the city must uphold its coalition agreement, release the required funds immediately, and create a sustainable financing model based on actual needs. Without this emergency fund, many uninsured individuals may go untreated. Matthias Plieninger, an internist and Medinetz member, warns this could lead to worsening health conditions and potentially fatal outcomes. The city’s current budget decisions leave the program unable to assist new cases for the remainder of the year.