This paper discusses the crucial effects of Turkish health and migration laws on Syrian refugees’ access to public health services and social determinants of health. Key aspects of current Turkish laws affect the health of both refugees and Turkish citizens in many ways. The huge influx of refugees is increasing communicable disease risks, overcrowding hospitals, and more generally straining financial and health resources. Turkey’s United Nations membership and its candidacy for European Union (EU) have led to increased alignment of Turkey’s refugee and migration policies with international law. Major differences remain, however, and Turkey’s remaining noncompliance with international refugee laws is a major force driving Syrian refugee’s flight to EU countries, as refugees desperately seek the right to better health and social services. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Migration Refugee health Public health Turkish refugee policy Turkish migration legislation Health legislation

Syria Turkey Humans Health Services Accessibility refugee Delivery of Health Care ethnology public policy Syrian Arab Republic legislation and jurisprudence human epidemiology Refugees health care delivery