As part of the implementation of the next stage of the project “Supporting the Network of Roma Medico-Social Mediators,” which is being carried out with the support of the Renaissance International Foundation, the working group of the NGO “Chirikli” continues a series of publications about cases of discrimination against Roma, particularly in their access to medical services. Today, we share stories from medical and social mediators from Kyiv region and the town of Toretsk.
Let’s begin with Kyiv region. Story from Valentina Zolotarenko.
“There was a woman in the hospital with her 9-year-old child being treated for bronchitis. The woman’s physical condition raised concerns among the doctors, as she appeared weak and was coughing severely. The doctors advised her to visit a tuberculosis dispensary for proper examination.
When the woman, accompanied by two of her relatives who lived with her, entered the doctor’s office, her companions – her pregnant daughter and son-in-law – asked at the registration desk if they could also be examined, as they were experiencing suspicious symptoms (coughing, weakness, etc.).
They were refused and told to go to another hospital, without any explanation of why they had to do so. The hospital staff were rude to them and denied them the examination despite their numerous pleas.
It’s important to note that this was a poor Roma family from Zakarpattia region who come to Kyiv every year and live in a so-called “makeshift camp” in tents, where an illness of one can threaten all. The people were very upset and turned to me, a mediator, for help.
I directly spoke to the doctor and requested him to issue referrals for the rest of the family members for examination (bypassing the registration). The family members underwent chest X-rays. Thankfully, all fears turned out to be groundless, and it wasn’t necessary to involve higher levels of medical authority to resolve the issue.”
Second story. Word from Olga Rudenko, mediator from Toretsk, Donetsk region.
“Tetyana fell seriously ill after her divorce. She had high blood pressure, heart pain, and headaches for three months. Problems – including housing issues – led to her having unilateral paralysis, and an ambulance took her to the hospital.
In the hospital, Tetyana was prescribed expensive medications and injections, but her health condition remained complicated. She asked to be referred to an examination at the regional hospital. They promised to provide her with a referral, and she went home to prepare for the examination.
After a day, she came back – only to find out that she had already been discharged, even though she had informed her doctor that she was going home for the night. This situation required my intervention as a mediator. Only after that, Tetyana was able to continue her treatment at the outpatient clinic. The treatment results were not very significant, so her relatives found a consultant at the regional hospital and arranged an appointment.
However, she needed to take her test results from the local hospital. And this is where a new cycle of “running around” began. Imagine this – for five days, Tetyana, with high blood pressure, came to the hospital to get her test results, but no one gave them to her. They said it was impossible, and she should come back tomorrow.
Time was passing, Tetyana’s condition was worsening, and there was no way out. Tetyana turned to me, the mediator, for help again. I was surprised that the local hospital staff couldn’t find a solution to this simple situation. Give her the results, and that’s it – everything should be listed there!
After I talked to the doctors, the situation changed – Tetyana was given a document containing all the test results. After tomography, consulting, and following the doctor’s recommendations from the regional hospital, Tetyana’s health improved.
Speaking about the reasons behind the outrageous behavior of the local hospital staff, we must call things by their names – it was blatant discrimination. Medical workers took advantage of Tetyana’s low level of education; she didn’t know her patient’s rights and how to overcome doctors’ inaction. Apart from prescribing medication and injections, they didn’t offer her any further procedures. Furthermore, they deceived her regarding the test results, hoping she would get tired and not return for them.
It is a well-known fact that Roma people are often underprivileged and can barely afford medication. This frequently leads to their belittlement and discrimination. And sometimes even threatens their health, as in the case described.”
What lessons can we learn from these two situations? As we can see, seeking help from a mediator resolves many problems:
It accelerates or makes it possible to provide necessary services;
Creates a precedent, giving the case an official status;
Mediator assistance and effective help boost the confidence of Roma community representatives in their ability to resolve problematic situations in their favor;
Increases Roma awareness of their rights and options for protection;
Demonstrates the effectiveness of public influence, enhancing the position and authority of Roma mediators;
Publicity and sharing information about such cases reduces the risk of similar situations happening in the future.”
Therefore, we will continue to publish such cases to prevent their recurrence.
