‘Medevac is critical’

Doctors say refugees ‘may die’ if emergency evacuations end

REFUGEES will be at risk of serious injury or death if medical evacuation laws are repealed, the three lead doctors implementing the program have warned.

However, the Department of Home Affairs claims the controversial laws have led to a spike in suicide attempts.

Doctors are urging a Senate committee to push back against the Federal Government’s efforts to scrap the socalled “medevac” laws.

“It is likely that should (the repeal Bill) succeed, this cohort of individuals will continue not to have access to adequate health care,” the lead doctors wrote to the committee.

“We should be quite clear that we believe this may lead, in some cases, to serious injury and/or death.”

In a separate submission, Home Affairs said asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea were increasingly self-harming and attempting suicide following the introduction of the laws.

Men being held on PNG saw this as the fastest way of getting to Australia, the department said.

“Notably, self-harm incidents increased during the parliamentary debate on the (Bill), and more significantly the Australian federal tion.”

Of the 72 people transferred to Australia under the legislation, 39 had carried out an act of self-harm and 19 had threatened self-harm.

“Home Affairs is concerned that self-harm is perceived as the most expedient means of accessing medical transfer under the provisions,” the desince elecpartment said. The laws passed against the Government’s wishes this year, giving doctors a greater say in granting sick refugees medical transfers to Australia for treatment.

The doctors said refugees and asylum seekers suffered far higher rates of disease. More than 120 patients have been approved for medical evacuation since the laws took effect in February.