From the late 1990s until today, the municipality of Barcelona has followed an intercultural strategy to implement inclusive measures for local migrant integration. These measures were reinforced to welcome asylum seekers as the population tripled between 2015 and 2017, through a range of measures, including:
In Tangier, Morocco, the municipality is working closely with civil society initiatives to promote social cohesion and access to services for migrants given the lack of deconcentrated services of the ministry in charge of migration.
In Amman, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) manages the activities of the Hashmy Janoubi community centre, which serves the local community living on the outskirts of the city through projects addressed to migrants and local inhabitants alike.
The City of Lisbon’s One Stop Shop that brings together under one roof and streamlines services to immigrants and ensures open access to everyone (regardless of status) has been an inspiration for other cities.
São Paulo developed a Referral and Assistance Centre for Immigrants, a specialized public service that provides, among other services, guidance on the regularization of documental status, legal counseling, social assistance, as well as referral to Portuguese classes in public schools, job intermediation services, and short-term shelter.
In Austria, a residence permit is granted if a person cannot be returned because the removal would be in violation of the right to private and family life within the meaning of Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
In Sweden, the law was changed in 2012 so that access to health care is now guaranteed and free for all children under 18, and for all adults in case of emergency, without any requirement to provide documents. Strong rules on confidentiality apply to citizens and non-citizens, both for access to health care and education, creating a robust firewall in the sphere of health, hence patient confidentiality includes undocumented migrants.
Switzerland has firewalls between immigration enforcement and service providers to guarantee access to basic services to all, including undocumented migrants. This right is based on the Swiss Federal Constitution and regulated by the Public Health Insurance Law.
The Republic of Moldova gives migrants the option to buy into national insurance schemes. Both migrants and refugees benefit from medical services through the mandatory health insurance system and also benefit from preventive and disease prevention services (e.g. immunization, communication/information, screening, prophylactic treatment for infectious diseases).
Some countries offer health coverage for their citizens who move abroad, e.g. Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
The PhilHealth program for OFWs allows members to avail themselves of PhilHealth benefits even if they are confined in hospitals abroad. At the same time, their qualified dependents in the Philippines may avail themselves of the benefits even if the principal is working overseas.