Access to life-saving medical services
Health is a basic human right for everyone. More than 730,000 refugees in Jordan have health needs, approximately 20% of whom have severe medical conditions or disabilities. UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, works closely with the government of Jordan, which includes refugees in its national health system and is an exemplary host country, to ensure that refugees have access to health care.
Including refugees in the national health system. Refugees have been integrated into Jordan’s national health system through close cooperation between UNHCR and the Ministry of Health (MoH). This integration began in April 2019, when Syrian refugees gained access to Jordan’s public health services at uninsured rates. In 2020, this access was expanded to refugees of all nationalities thanks to a consortium of donors including Canada, Denmark, Germany, Qatar, the United States and the World Bank.
UNHCR is working with the Ministry of Health to raise awareness among health workers about refugee access to services.
Awareness sessions for refugees are held regularly to provide information about available services and how to access them. These efforts have significantly reduced the number of cases in which refugees are unable to receive medical care, and slightly increased the number of refugees seeking public health care facilities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jordanian government and UNHCR ensured that refugees participated in vaccination programs both in their communities and in camps.
Additionally, UNHCR has partnered with Caritas to run a clinic in Amman where refugees living in the community can receive free medical care.
Developed by UNHCR’s Public Health Division, Cash for Essential Health Services provides conditional and unrestricted cash to vulnerable refugees and provides funding for secondary health care services such as maternity and emergency life support through the Ministry of Health. Facilitate access. This approach is consistent with UNHCR’s strategy to treat refugees like nationals and support their integration into national health systems. In 2023, with a budget of $1.7 million, 4,937 cash transfers were made to urban refugees (298 non-Syrian and 4,639 Syrian).
Clinics and hospitals in refugee camps. In Jordan, approximately 130,000 Syrian refugees live in Azraq and Zaatari camps, although most refugees live in communities. UNHCR, as co-chair of the Health Sector Working Group, plays a key role in managing these camps and coordinating health-related activities. Within these camps, UNHCR and its partners operate primary health care facilities providing services for acute and chronic diseases, reproductive health, vaccination, mental health, dentistry, nutrition and pediatrics. Azraq Camp also has a hospital that provides advanced medical services such as laboratory tests, X-rays, surgeries, childbirth, and pediatric care.
On average, Azraq camp handles around 5,000 calls per week, while Zaatari camp handles around 4,300 calls per week. If necessary, UNHCR facilitates referrals to external hospitals and clinics. From January to October 2023, more than 5,500 cases from the camp were referred outside and hospitalized, with approximately half receiving treatment at public health facilities, a marked improvement compared to the previous year. It became. However, due to limited funds, removal outside the camp is only permitted in life-threatening emergencies. Declining humanitarian funding in Jordan has led some health partners to reduce or withdraw support to camps, straining the ability of remaining health facilities to meet the growing medical demands of the refugee population.
UNHCR and the government have continued to support refugees’ access to health services, but challenges remain.
According to the 2023 Healthcare Access and Utilization Survey, many refugees point to increased healthcare costs. In addition to dire economic conditions, many refugees said they had reduced their visits to health care providers, used up their savings, gone into debt, and reduced or stopped their medications.
sustainability. Refugee access to public health services in Jordan was made possible primarily thanks to financial support from a donor consortium. Together with donors, UNHCR advocates for this support to continue to ensure refugees have access to affordable public health care. At the same time, noting that the current situation is no longer a humanitarian emergency after 10 years, UNHCR will strengthen its engagement with development actors to ensure that they complement the health needs of refugees and vulnerable Jordanians. , we are here to assist you.
