Five new Flash Reports prepared by the European Social policy Network (ESPN) are now available and provide information on recent policy developments in Turkey, Malta, Switzerland, Spain and Latvia.

• As of January 2016, the minimum wage in Turkey was raised by 30%. While this measure is expected to increase the real income of a large part of the population, the impact on unemployment as well as on the informal labour market remains uncertain.
• The Maltese “Residential Halfway Programme”, introduced in the first quarter of 2016, is intended to assist persons living in shelters to return to independent living. The Programme offers subsidised accommodation to those having completed a therapeutic programme and managed to secure regular employment.
• In Switzerland, doctors who have not worked at least three years in a Swiss institution of advanced training or are not registered with the obligatory Swiss health insurance are not admitted to free practice. This ban is compatible with the bilateral treaties between Switzerland and the EU since it formally extends to all doctors. Yet, its first objective is to restrict the expected inward flow of doctors from the EU. In December 2015, the Parliament voted down the proposal to permanently ban the new admission of doctors and asked the Government to propose a new temporary solution. The restriction on the admission of doctors will probably be extended until 2019.
• The Spanish “Comprehensive National Homelessness Strategy 2015-2020” was adopted through consensus between the relevant Ministries, third sector organisations and the Autonomous Communities in November 2015. It aims to reduce the number of homeless people from around 23,000 in 2015 to 18,000 by 2020. Despite its potential strengths and innovative approach, there are fears that the Strategy may not deliver because of lack of funds and coordination.
• With the highest proportion of people with unmet needs for medical examination or treatment due to costs, distance or waiting lists in the EU28, Latvia is currently investigating how to reform the funding of its healthcare system. The absence of clear Government proposals is causing concern among citizens and healthcare service providers. The Minister of Health is expected to submit concrete reform proposals on funding and a compulsory healthcare insurance to the Government on July 1 2016.