The 94/2009 law, issued by the Italian Government in July of the past year, has created a state of uncertainty and worry among the health operators and has worsened the actual level of accessibility to health services for migrants, especially irregular ones. In Italy health has progressively become a right for everyone, migrants included, independently of their juridical condition. Nevertheless, in practice, a high level of inequality affecting access to healthcare services is noted when comparing the Italian population and migrants. Available data reveal a substantial failure of health and social policies for integration and highlight the need for increased awareness of, and motivation to achieve, the affirmation of the right to health for all. Only a strong, active, and collective effort, and not punitive measures against migrants, can guarantee a progress towards, and the acknowledgment of the right to health for all individuals. An analysis of the consequences felt by the most vulnerable groups of migrants as a result of the overlap between existing legislation and the new 94/2009 Law reveals that the new direction taken recently distances us from the national principles of the right to health and creates further inequalities between Italian "citizens".

Juvenile Migration Women's health equity Health services Health care disparity Vulnerable groups Legislation

data analysis government crime health service policy Review law clinical practice awareness migrant worker population health care personnel human rights health motivation human migration health care delivery