MONITORING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ROMA PEOPLE IN ACCESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES

The project “Monitoring Roma access to public health services,” carried out by SASTIPEN since 2009, aimed to combat discrimination and ensure equal access to medical services. Initiated in response to cases of treatment refusal, segregation, and verbal abuse, including in maternity wards, the project evolved from documenting individual situations into a complex mechanism for monitoring, legal assistance, and advocacy.

Decisions obtained from the National Council for Combating Discrimination created important precedents regarding discrimination in healthcare. Later, reporting tools, partnerships with institutions, and strategic litigation actions were developed. The initiative led to the creation of a specialized department for combating discrimination in health, strengthening the organization’s role as a key actor in promoting Roma rights and equity in the healthcare system.