Within the analysis of the socio-economic context and the data from hospital discharges, the themes of social inequalities, health disparities, determinants of health care are discussed. Regular immigrants versus irregular, wealthy people versus those in poverty, they have access to and receive different health treatments, besides presenting risk conditions significantly different in relation to their social situation. Through the analysis of hospital discharge records as well as data from injuries at work, besides underestimations in foreign people and the greater risk of injuries for immigrants, it is evident how the aspects of inequalities connected to socioeconomic determinants and the different access to health services are pivotal for our health and welfare and that a profound change is required to tackle them properly, focusing on intervention on health care system, according to models which take into account not only evidence based medicine, but also narrative medicine, not only health protection, but also health promotion, so that equity and quality of health care is warranted for everyone. © PI-ME, Pavia 2011.

Social inequalities Migration health care

lifestyle Life Style health promotion health care policy poverty health disparity Health Status Disparities occupational disease human statistics work comparative study health status Occupational Diseases social support Humans occupational accident Medical Records Emigrants and Immigrants risk factor Risk Factors medical record social welfare Article migration legal aspect standard Emigration and Immigration Italy Health Policy Delivery of Health Care Accidents, Occupational health care delivery