Final Project-Special Population
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HCA430-Week3Assignment-Shayna.docx
Shayna L. Rocourt
HCA 430 Special Population
Professor Kathy Ogden
November 24, 2020
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IMMIGRANTS |
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Vulnerable Groups
In recent years, migration is on the rise around the world. Individuals migrate from their native countries voluntarily to foreign countries because of political unrest and war, leading to them being forcibly displaced from their native lands to look for refuge in neighboring foreign countries. Access to healthcare services for such individuals has always been a significant concern for immigrants who cannot access healthcare services just in the same manner as natives do get (Raphael, 2013). In this regard, refugees as vulnerable groups are exposed to health risks and inequalities that negatively impact their well-being and overall health outcomes. This paper aims at exploring the barriers that impact the health of this vulnerable populations, on a marco and micro-level, it will also explore legal barriers.
Micro-Level Financial Barrier That Impact the Health of Immigrants and Refugees
Financial confinement is identified as the most significant barrier in accessing healthcare in some countries. A barrier might also develop from financing healthcare because of the different restrictions for national health systems and families (Vicol,2012). This depends on if the health services are financed through taxes, insurance, or both. The patients' health insurance regulates the availability of health care services, and insurance for public health accessibility is normally limited towards those who are employed. Unemployed individuals are compelled to opt for private health insurance coverage, which is very expensive. Thus, in theory, immigrants or a refugee can easily access health care in various health facilities. Still, in practicality, the cost of health care is unaffordable to immigrants and refugees, limiting the ability to enjoy the perceived privileges.
Financial barriers also provide restricted access, and it is usually not available to immigrants and refugees. The payment mode for healthcare services barriers accesses it to the vulnerable (Brussels, Spencer & Hughes, 2015). The cost of healthcare services is one of the biggest barriers in health care. The entitlement to primary and secondary health care services by immigrants and refugees is not achievable, they must make payments for the services' full cost without fail. Due to most refugees and immigrants' social, economic conditions, access to financial services, and securing employment is further restricted by the law. The lack of necessary documents to work in the host country increases the rate of poverty among this vulnerable population. States should there for enforce a mechanism that ensures all refugees and migrants access public health care services on the same basis as the natives of that state by providing free services, removing limitations on access to health insurance, and subsidizing insurance premiums.
Macro-Level Financial Barrier That Impact the Health of Immigrants and Refugees
Insufficient funding of international bodies which provide empowerment to theses vulnerable groups includes The United Nations Relief and Works Agency, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Food Program, United Nations Children's Fund, International Organization for Migration and International Committee of the Red Cross. This poses a challenge to cater to them in the host countries they took refuge in. In addition to the poor funding by the international communities, a poor framework to guide the use of the exiting funds results in corruption and misappropriation of funds. As a result, refugees and immigrants do not engage proactively in the decision-making process and how such funds can be used for their well-being. More vigorous and constant financing of such multilateral bodies and country-based bodies for resettlement of refugees will definitely guarantee protection of these refugees and improve their incorporation in the local society.
Legal Barrier That Impact the Health of Immigrants And Refugees
Law-based and policy-based suggestions regulate immigrants and refugees' right to access the services of health care. In places where there is a legal recognition of immigrants, refugees, and proper health services, a person's legal personality is crucial for them to access health care services. Accessing the highest attainable health care service is determined by legal policies and regulations of migration, which lead to administrative procedures in nature that need to be followed so that refugees can easily access health care. Barriers that are administrative and the timeframe given for documents to be processed and proceeding applications make refugees impossible to access healthcare (Bradby et al., 2015). Legal frameworks do not always warrant the absolute right of accessing healthcare services, and systems that use social insurance are an obstacle to refugees. UNCHR recommends (UNHCR, 2011) that the successful approach to improving the right to access such services is eradicating all legal-based barriers. Improving the situation by creating a reconciled shared labeling system for refugees will make it easy to fulfill the right to access health care services.
Regulatory, Legal, Ethical Requirements for Health Care Services for Refugees and Immigrants
Migration affects healthcare services and airs several ethical and legal challenges. States that receive migrants have to know how to undertake health research and public health surveillance that is migration‐sensitive to achieve effective health programs with zero stereotypes. The level of healthcare given to different migrant groups should also be checked. Also, it is unclear how value differences at death are dealt with (Wiener et al.,2013). Thus, to addresses the health inequalities that refugees and immigrants are exposed to, it is essential to have a total overhaul of the legal frameworks. Instead, policies developed should cater to the immigrants and refugees' needs and limit barriers to access to care.
References
Brussels’ and Spencer S. and Hughes V. (2015) Outside and In: Legal Entitlements to Health Care and Education for Migrants with Irregular Status in Europe COMPAS
Bradby, H., Humphris, R., Newall, D., & Phillimore, J. (2015). Public health aspects of
migrant health: a review of the evidence on refugees and asylum seekers' health status in the European Region.
Raphael D. (2013) Challenges to promoting health in the modern welfare state: the case of
the Nordic nations. Scand J Soc Med;42:717.
UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (, 2011). Ensuring Access to
Health Care: Operational Guidance on Refugee Protection and Solutions in Urban Areas.
Vicol M-C. (2012) Barriers to care. In: Loue S, Sajatovic M, eds. Encyclopedia of immigrant
health. New York, NY: Springer New York, 2603.
Wiener, L., McConnell, D. G., Latella, L., & Ludi, E. (2013). Cultural and religious
considerations in pediatric palliative care. Palliat Support Care, 11, 47–67.
