Firewalls in Migration Policy and Access to Healthcare: The Italian Case

This thesis explores the concept of firewalls and how separating healthcare services from immigration control may improve access to healthcare for irregular migrants in Italy. People without legal status often face significant obstacles in accessing medical care due to fear of being reported to authorities, complex administrative procedures, and regional differences in service delivery. These conditions can compromise basic human rights protected under international and European human rights law, including the right to private and family life, protection from inhuman or degrading treatment, and the principle of human dignity. The research first examines the categories of irregular migrants and the legal, administrative, and practical barriers they face in accessing healthcare. It then focuses on the idea of firewall protections in migration policy and how it may reduce fear and promote safe and equal access to healthcare. Ethical obligations in medical practice, such as confidentiality and the duty to treat patients without discrimination, are considered as essential parts of this approach. While certain informal safeguards exist, such as the use of anonymous health codes (STP/ENI), they remain inconsistent and lack clear legal recognition. Through a review of Italian national legislation and relevant international and regional legal instruments, this thesis reflects on whether clearer and more consistent firewall protections could help safeguard healthcare access for people with irregular status.