The European Commission will allocate 25 million euros to Greece under the Emergency Support Instrument to support medical services in migrant reception facilities on the Greek mainland and on the islands, it said on Tuesday.

Commenting on the decision, Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas said, "European means protecting the most vulnerable. With today's funding we are helping migrant and host communities in Greece to improve access healthcare for all, particularly important during the pandemic."

The funding will reinforce the medical infrastructure in the reception centres and support public hospitals in host communities in Greece which facing increased demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

"The virus is our common enemy. We know that it disproportionately affects vulnerable communities," Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson noted. "This additional support will help the Greek authorities to better safeguard people residing in the reception centres as well as relieving pressure on existing healthcare services."

The funding will help to minimise the risk of infection, reinforce medical equipment in public hospitals, assist authorities in carrying out health checks and providing primary medical assistance, and finally provide bio-medical waste incinerators, isolation and quarantine units. 

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