National and ethnic diversities among and within groups of migrants present great challenges to health care, not only in Germany. Access to regular health care, in particular for relatively small migrant groups and new immigrants is sometimes diffi cult. In addition, specifi c cultural aspects and legal implications - such as the residence status - must be taken into account when setting up a complementary system of health care. Methods and arrangements should make use of already existing resources of the health care system as well as proceed to direct cooperation with migrant communities. The public health service with its wide range of technical and organisational effi ciency can play a key role here, especially in the municipal sector, both for an eff ecitive medical care for those who have dif-fi culties in gaining access to the system, as well as for developing municipal networks, cooperating with a maximum number of medical service providers, organisations, and regarding specifi c migrant lifestyles. Social and ethic aspects of medical care for people living in precarious conditions ought to be supplemented by practice models which render a fl exible and economic organisation of a complementary system of health care, the only way to a sustainable medical care for small migrant groups or not optimally integrated immigrant populations. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart.

intercultural learning Municipal networks Undocumented people Health management minorities

Short Survey Germany immigrant lifestyle cooperation Organizational Objectives human ethics social aspect ethnic difference cultural factor Interinstitutional Relations health care organization legal aspect health care access health care system Transients and Migrants Delivery of Health Care Delivery of Health Care, Integrated medical care