| Abstract |
Background: Asylum seekers are undoubtedly a vulnerable social and population group, which is at increased risk of experiencing social exclusion. Their universal and equal access to the National Health System is crucial for their integration into the host country, the prevention of inequalities and the safeguarding of public health. In Greece, research on the use of Primary Health Care services by asylum seekers is still limited.
Objectives: The purpose of this study is to highlight the difficulties and barriers faced by asylum seekers during their access to the Primary Health Care services of the Greece’s National Health System.
The individual objectives of the study concern: • investigating the existing difficulties faced by asylum seekers in accessing PHC services, • in the investigation of the degree of satisfaction of the participants from the existing system of provision of PHC services, • in investigating the degree of satisfaction of the participants, from their treatment by health professionals.
Methods: The MYHEALTH questionnaire was used to investigate the cases, which surveys the views of migrants and refugees about their access to health care in Europe. Translated into Arabic and Farsi and completed by 60 adult asylum seekers, beneficiaries of the "Emergency Support for the Integration and Housing of Asylum Seekers and International Beneficiaries - ESTIA", implemented by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in cooperation with the Greek
Public Health-Primary Health Care-Health Services
School of Medicine–University of Crete
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Government. In addition, 10 interviews were conducted with employees of the organization "Development of Heraklion" and who have accompanied asylum seekers to P.H.C. services in order to to highlighting the barriers faced by asylum seekers in accessing health services.
Results: The total of the respondents, 76.7% (46 people) stated that they have access to the Public Health system and have a Temporary Insurance and Health Care Number of a foreign person. A very large percentage of 83.3% (50 people) state that they have encountered some difficulty or problem during their contact with P.H.C. services. The main difficulty / problem is the language for 36 people 72.0% of the sample, while low percentages 8.0% (4 people) for insufficient legal documents and administrative issues (6.0%, 3 people). Also at a rate of 40.0% (24 people) state that in the structures of P.H.C. there is a person who can help them to reconcile with health professionals, as a translator, interpreter, cultural mediator or health consultant. More than half of the 53.3% (32 people) consider intercultural mediators / interpreters necessary. The qualitative part of the research showed that asylum seekers, in a more general context, are satisfied, based on their experience, with the behavior and professionalism of the medical / paramedical staff and with the operation of the National Health Service. The emotions they express are mixed and have been influenced by their personal experiences. They report satisfaction but with a simultaneous feeling of discomfort regarding the procedural part. In addition, the results of the qualitative and quantitative part of the research, agree, in terms of access difficulties (mainly language) and in terms of ways to deal with them (existence of interpreters in each health care provider).
Conclusion: The present study highlighted the problems faced by asylum seekers during their access to PHC services, with this dominant barrier of language. In addition, proposals were made to remove these obstacles.
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Αιτούντες άσυλο : δικαιώματα, πρόσβαση σε υπηρεσίες Πρωτοβάθμιας Φροντίδας Υγείας και πιθανά εμπόδια
