Hamburg's uninsured migrants left without emergency medical funding

Uninsured migrants in Hamburg have been left without financial coverage for essential treatments since mid-May. The city’s emergency assistance program, designed to support urgent medical cases, has run out of approved funds. This comes as demand for consultations has risen sharply over the past decade. The emergency program has faced chronic underfunding despite a surge in demand. Consultations increased from 284 in 2012 to over 2,300 in 2024, yet the budget was never permanently adjusted to match the growing need. Initially, €500,000 was allocated, but in May, only about one-fifth of an additional €500,000 request was approved, leaving the fund exhausted for new cases.

The Clearing Office, based at Hamburg’s Refugee Center, has been a lifeline for uninsured individuals. It helps them access regular healthcare or covers urgent treatments through the municipal emergency fund. In 2024 alone, 678 out of 781 clients received approval for funding, with around €718,000 spent on treatments and prescriptions.

Medinetz, a network providing healthcare and social support to uninsured individuals, has criticised the city’s austerity measures. The group warns that without this resource, many will go untreated, risking severe illnesses or even death. Internist and Medinetz member Matthias Plieninger has raised the alarm about the potential consequences.

The Senate has framed the Clearing Office as a voluntary service, with funding dependent on budgetary approval. Current fiscal constraints continue to shape the future of the emergency fund. The emergency fund will not provide further support for the rest of the year. This leaves uninsured migrants with no options for acute medical emergencies. Medinetz is now urging the city to release the necessary funds immediately and establish sustainable, needs-based financing in line with its coalition agreement.