Health Policy
Volume 101, Issue 1, 2011, Pages 70-78

Health policies for migrant populations in three European countries: England; Italy and Spain (Article)

Vázquez M.-L.* , Terraza-Núñez R. , Vargas I. , Rodríguez D. , Lizana T.
  • a Health Policy and Health Services Research Group, Health Policy Research Unit, Consortium for Health Care and Social Services of Catalonia, Av. Tibidabo 21, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
  • b Health Policy and Health Services Research Group, Health Policy Research Unit, Consortium for Health Care and Social Services of Catalonia, Av. Tibidabo 21, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
  • c Health Policy and Health Services Research Group, Health Policy Research Unit, Consortium for Health Care and Social Services of Catalonia, Av. Tibidabo 21, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
  • d Health Policy and Health Services Research Group, Health Policy Research Unit, Consortium for Health Care and Social Services of Catalonia, Av. Tibidabo 21, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
  • e Immigration and Health Plan, Directorate of Planning and Evaluation, Catalonian Health Department, Travessera de les Corts, 131-159 (Edifici Olímpia), 08028 Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed at providing a comparative analysis of health policies for immigrant populations in three European countries. Methods: A descriptive comparative study of health policies for immigrant population was conducted through content analysis. England, Italy and Spain were selected because they have similar national health systems and different histories of immigration. For each country national or regional plans that included health policies for immigrants or ethnic minorities were selected. The analysis was conducted along the following dimensions: policy objectives, strategies, and evaluation of results. Subsequently, strategies were categorized according to the field of action. Results: Improvements in immigrants' health are the ultimate objectives of these policies but they differ in emphasis and strategies. Main strategies relate to: addressing specific health issues; access to healthcare - information, communication, service supply and administrative proceedings; and improving quality of healthcare provision - services adaptation, professionals training and health needs' analysis. Only in England are some results of policy evaluation available. Conclusions: Different models of immigrant integration in receiving countries seem to condition the health policy approach. England and Spain propose actions to address immigrants' healthcare needs, while in Italy the development of specific strategies is limited. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Author Keywords

Policies Immigration healthcare Policy analysis

Index Keywords

consumer health information training health care planning health care policy human immigration health service controlled study comparative study State Medicine Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants England Spain female Article human experiment migration health care quality content analysis United Kingdom normal human Italy Health Policy health care need health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79956005664&doi=10.1016%2fj.healthpol.2010.08.026&partnerID=40&md5=4ea72cffd5539ca8d90aaccac6609361
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2010.08.026
ISSN: 01688510
Cited by: 29
Original Language: English