Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Διεθνής Ιατρική - Διαχείριση Κρίσεων ΥγείαςLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Katochianou Ioanna
Supervisors info:
Γεωργόπουλος Σωτήριος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπων
Καραβοκυρός Ιωάννης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Κοντός Μιχαήλ, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Οι περιορισμοί πρόσβασης ατόμων με διαφορετική πολιτισμική ταυτότητα σε υπηρεσίες υγείας
Translated title:
The restrictions of access to persons with different cultural identity to health services
Summary:
Introduction
This paper examines the restrictions on access to health care for migrant - refugees living in Greece. While natives have access to healthcare - such as emergency medical treatment and - the possibility of visiting a doctor in the event of a serious illness for refugee migrants, such access is not always guaranteed. One concern that is often expressed is whether migrants are carriers of communicable diseases and whether they are burdened by the NHS. especially in a financial crisis. Whether a country is a point of destination in relation to the level of health care provided is also an issue that has been investigated.
Purpose
Review and record data from national and international literature to highlight restrictions on access to health services for people with a different cultural identity.
Material and Method
The search took place in three databases using the appropriate keywords as presented in chapter 3. The search for bibliographic sources was based on the following criteria:
• Studies on refugees,
• Surveys - Studies published in English, German and French,
• Published since 2005 and thereafter.
Results
Of an initial volume of 75 articles, 15 studies on the subject were finally selected. Of all studies, 10 were qualitative, and 5 quantitative. All the studies that have been accepted, refer to immigration in connection with access to health services for refugees and immigrants. From the examination of the studies, existing restrictions on access of immigrants to health services have been identified, most frequently being the lack of adequate communication, the non-existent or limited insurance cover, the non-professional behavior of health professionals and the differences in the cultural and ethnic level of migrants in regard to the natives.
Conclusions
According to the review of the literature in this paper, there are still restrictions on the access of people with different cultural identity to health services not only in Greece but also in other EU entry gates. Although measures to facilitate migrant refugees have been institutionalized, it is essential that the policy-makers designing and implementing policies should focus on further alleviation of the adverse conditions that restrict the inclusion and integration of these individuals into the community, so that public health will be available to everyone and not to a few.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Immigrants health, Illegal immigration, Barriers to health care, World Health Organization, Different culture, Social discrimination
