Easy and equal access |
A health care system that is easy to access for migrants |
• Accessibility on the same terms as the general population: |
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◦ In health care systems with free access, free access to care for migrants. |
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◦ In insurance-based health care systems, migrants should have the right to be insured. |
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• Remove barriers to accessing secondary care. |
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• Special health services should be made available in areas with high migrant populations |
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• Service hours should adapt to the needs of their users, including migrants. |
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• Services should be affordable: governments should provide the necessary resources and adapt legislation to achieve this. |
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• Inform health professionals about the legislation related to the rights to health care for migrants in their country. |
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Empowerment |
Empower migrants with regard to health & health determinants |
• Provision of information for migrants in their own language
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15 |
DK |
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◦ about their rights and the functioning of the health care system and social care system. |
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◦ about health, illness and prevention
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◦ Provide a special consultation the first time people access the health care system. |
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• Outside the health care sector: |
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◦ improving access to work as well as work and living conditions empowers migrants and may consequently |
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◦ improve their health. providing opportunities to learn the language of the host country will facilitate integration into the host country and consequently also access to health care. |
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• Participation of migrants and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) dealing with migrants in the organisation of health care services. |
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Culturally sensitive care |
Adjust care provision to cultural differences |
• Health care providers should receive specific training on cultural competencies and communication skills. |
14 |
FI, UK |
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• Employ cultural mediators or health care providers of migrant descent, |
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• Develop specialised services in case of added value to regular services can be demonstrated. |
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• Health education and health promotion messages should take into account cultural diversity. |
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Quality care |
Guarantee quality of care |
• Services should consider the patient as an individual and not stereotype them with the characteristics of the cultural group they are perceived of as belonging to. |
12 |
DE, LT, PT, UK |
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• Quality care means taking into account the individual's specific medical history and social background and giving individualised psychological support and empathy. |
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• Health care professionals should take the time to listen to patients and check that both parties have understood each other. |
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• Other factors mentioned: |
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◦ establishing trust, |
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◦ seeking truly informed consent, |
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◦ guaranteeing continuity of care
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◦ adapting care to the person's lifestyle and their capacity to receive and self-manage care |
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Patient-health care provider communication |
Provide interpreting and translation |
• High quality interpreter services, either in person or by telephone, should be easily accessible. |
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BE, HU, IT, NL, PT |
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• Services should take into account varying levels of both health literacy and mastery of the local language. |
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Respect towards migrants |
Fight discrimination & prejudice, respect differences |
• Practitioners should show respect, create trust, be interested and address patients without prejudice and with an open mind. |
9 |
AT, BE, DE, EL, IT, PT, UK |
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• Health care services should be delivered without xenophobia or any sign of racism. |
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• Health care providers should be motivated to deliver care for migrants with attention to their specific needs and priorities. |
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• A policy against acts of discrimination in health care facilities should be established and implemented. |
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Networking in and outside health care services |
Effective networking, integrated care |
• Networking within health care services and between health and social services
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8 |
AT, BE, DE, EL, FR, HU, LT, SE |
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• Interdisciplinarity is a priority within health care services. |
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• Coordination between primary care services, or between primary care and refugee-specific health care services. |
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• Supporting migrants to develop their social networks
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• Supporting migrants or persons of migrant descent who care for other migrants. |
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Targeted outreach activities |
Targeted outreach programmes in prevention and care |
• Outreach activities in health education, screening, prevention and promotion with difficult to reach migrant groups. |
8 |
AT, BE, DK, FI, LT, NL, PL, SE |
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Availability of data |
Data on migrants, epidemiology, research |
• Health care services should be provided with relevant knowledge on health and risk factors concerning the populations they are dealing with. |
6 |
DK, EL, FR, HU, IT, LT, PL, PT, SE, UK |
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• Health registries
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◦ should record and monitor migrant health to facilitate migrant health research. |
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◦ should be able to integrate patient mobility with full respect of human rights. |
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