Demands

We think:

The complaint system which handles objections to medical injustice is often inefficient, requires time, skills and legal knowledge and often financial resources. These assets are mostly unavailable to people who are being discriminated against or find themselves in crises, hospitalised or institutionalised.

The German healthcare system, the social system and the asylum system in Germany produce anxiety and stress. They put pressure on people and thus negatively affect their health when they are already in vulnerable situations. Filling out forms, applying for assistance, medical devices, therapies and services, having applications rejected, responsibilities being delegated between different parties and deadlines being stretched to their limits exhausts healthcare users.

The healthcare system must not harm its users. Acts of everyday racism, patronising communication, incorrect use of pronouns and names, and dismissal of personal experiences harm people who are looking for medical support.

Vulnerable groups need comprehensive health support to cope with trauma and stress.

Concepts of health and well-being in the German healthcare system do not take into account the history and continuity of colonisation, racism, classism, ableism, and discrimination of LGBTQIA+ people. By establishing concepts and norms of so-called healthy bodies and minds, they leave damaging traces on families, identities and bodies. The effect that unresolved histories of violence and perpetuating discrimination have on physical and emotional health is not sufficiently researched and acknowledged.

In Germany, doctors and chief physicians are predominantly white, non-disabled and socially privileged. Structurally racist job recommendations direct migrants and BIPoC into more precarious jobs in healthcare, such as carers, nurses and service staff. Classist and white privileges in healthcare professions are passed on, keeping medicine an elitist professional field that accumulates power, money and status.

Many people with white privilege do not voluntarily confront the racist impact of their actions and internalised beliefs. This renders the German healthcare system a potentially unsafe and damaging field for people affected by racism. This also applies to other internalised violent norms, such as ableism or cissexism.

Communication with interpreters, communication with assistants, as well as challenging and complex health situations require time. People who need more time than the healthcare system anticipates are often made to feel burdensome or difficult. We are often left with the feeling of taking up too much space. Complex communicative situations need to be facilitated in healthcare services.

Users of the healthcare system must be given the opportunity to choose nondiscriminatory, accessible services. The following information should be available:

People in a particularly vulnerable situation – such as refugees involved in asylum procedures or housed in shelters – need to receive access to full-scale healthcare services. For people with learning disabilities and/or for people who don’t speak German, the healthcare system is particularly inaccessible. Making it accessible for those currently excluded, hindered and obstructed must be a priority in developing new healthcare guidelines and policies.

These demands were written collectively based on interviews held with four initiatives: Bundesfachnetz Gesundheit und Rassismus, Casa Kuà, <Platz da!> and Women in Exile, and a preparatory conversation with members of Romani Phen e.V.. Sina Rahel Holzmair and Yasmina Metwally spoke with us on behalf of Bundesfachnetz Gesundheit und Rassismus. The interview included answers from Kadijata Bah, Mariela Georg, Diminga Lorenz, Sumona Dhakal, Sina Rahel Holzmair and Yasmina Metwally.
Madeleine Mawamba and Jana Böhm spoke on behalf of Women in Exile. Katrin Dinges and Stefanie Amanda Wiens spoke on behalf of <Platz da!>. Tzoa spoke on behalf of Casa Kuà. These demands serve as documentation, and as a starting point for our exchanges. They are shaped by individual experiences and do not claim completeness. There are many more demands to make.

These demands were developed collectively and are based on the interviews with the following initiatives:

RomaniPhen e.V. is an association of Rom:nja and Sinti:zze.

(Federal Network Health and Racism) Political and racism-critical networking

An initiative working for more inclusive cultural institutions, offering accessible cultural education formats.

Trans Inter Queer Community & Health Centre

As a trans* activist, educational speaker and DJ, Mine subverts the Cistem. Mine studied scenic arts, is part of female:pressure, the federal trans association and gives lectures and workshops on anti-discrimination and power critique.

An initiative of refugee women founded in Brandenburg in 2002 by refugee women to fight for their rights.

Demands

You deserve to be heard

You deserve non-intimidating, easy-to-navigate healthcare services

You deserve to be perceived as a full person

You deserve support in navigating the German healthcare system

You deserve healthcare that acknowledges its own history

You deserve to receive medical care from diverse practitioners

You deserve to be safe

You deserve all the time you need

You deserve to receive information and to have choices

You deserve healthcare regardless of your situation

RomaniPhen e.V.

Bundesfachnetz Gesundheit und Rassismus

Platz da!

Casa Kuà

Mine Pleasure Bouvar

Women in Exile (WiE)