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SIXTH
INTERNATIONAL METROPOLIS CONFERENCE WORKSHOP 64:
Health care: the case for immigrant groups Thursday, November 29, 2001
16:00 - 17:30
ORGANIZERS
Mrs. Wil Voogt
Inspector health care
Inspectie voor de gezondheidszorg
wc.voogt@igz.nl
Address: P.O. box 20350 NL- 2500 EJ Den Haag The Netherlands
Telephone: -31-70-3407138 WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
The purpose of the workshop is to address the following two questions:
1. What is known about the health situation of immigrants in industrialized
countries, and
2. What kind of health policies are developed to offer proper care for
these groups? 1. It has become general knowledge
that there are differences in the state of health amongst people living
in industrialized countries. This is even more the case amongst people
living in more and less industrialized countries. Because people from
less industrialized countries are moving towards more industrialized,
richer, countries, lots of interaction effects become now apparent. The
cultural factor shouldn't be overlooked; it plays an important role and
is closely linked to this issue. This manifests itself in the bad health
situation of some groups of immigrants. Although research on this topic
has been done, the picture certainly isn't complete. Furthermore, conducting
research is very difficult because of the lack of data. In The Netherlands
for instance, registration of ethnicity is hardly ever done within the
health care system.
The Netherlands Institute of Public Health and Environment (RIVM) and
the Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP) have studied the health
differences between immigrant groups and the general population. In England
similar research has been done (for instance Rawaf and Bahl).
We intend to invite three researchers from different countries - in any
case the Netherlands and the United Kingdom - for a short (15 min.) presentation
on this topic. Workshop participants and a panel of speakers subsequently
can discuss and compare the findings of the studies from a policy point
of view. 2. Which actions have been
taken to reduce the differences in health? Has a plan of action been developed
for risk groups or risk areas? For example by stimulating health care
workers to come and work in those areas. In The Netherlands general practitioners
who work in the complex setting of a poor neighbourhood are granted added
financial compensations.
In order to bring about an increase in health for people living in underprivileged
areas, mainly immigrants, health care workers should focus on specific
prevention and care for those groups.
The method in which to achieve this can be approached from two different
viewpoints. It is extremely important to strengthen non-indigenous communities
with respect to their health related behaviour. This can be accomplished
by clear explanation and by making them conscious of their own abilities
to improve their health.
The other viewpoint is adapting the health care system to the behaviour
and the culture of the various groups. In the Netherlands methods have
been developed to contact specific groups; an example of this is a programme
for Moroccan women who suffer from diabetes.
It is obvious that the best approach would be for both viewpoints to be
fully integrated in order to achieve a successful policy. The developed
solutions seem to carry within them the seeds of success. But it is also
clear that much knowledge is still to be uncovered. How best to provide
health care to immigrants is a much talked about topic.
In the workshop we like to present a series of practical cases (3-4) mainly
directed to prevention measures. An international exchange of ideas and
discussion of best practices will undoubtedly provide us with new perspectives. DURATION: Two sessions
of 1,5 hour each are needed. PRESENTERS: H. Wagenborg, SOGG, the Netherlands
(chair)
T. Voorham, Municipal Health Department Rotterdam, The Netherlands
H. Verrept, Ministry of Health, Belgium
P. van Haastrecht, NIGZ, the Netherlands |
