Ensuring equitable access to health care for refugees and migrants in Turkey
Ensuring equitable access to health care for refugees and migrants in Turkey... 1
Over 4 million refugees and migrants live in Turkey, with 90% being Syrians under temporary protection and 8% from other countries under international protection. Primary health care is provided free of charge, including initial diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation services, screening and immunization for communicable diseases, paediatrics, and sexual and reproductive health care.
Ensuring equitable access to health care for refugees and migrants in Turkey... 2
Almost 100 foreigners' polyclinics have been established to provide migrant-friendly health care and contribute to Turkey's goal of ensuring health for all. Dr Nese works in a polyclinic in Eskişehir: "This type of polyclinic is an entry point to health care for migrants; we work in an integrated manner with the rest of the health system to exchange information for referrals in an effective way".
Ensuring equitable access to health care for refugees and migrants in Turkey... 3
Refugees and migrants may have difficulty navigating the health-care system and communicating. Interpreters (e.g. in Arabic, Urdu, Farsi and English) help to bridge such barriers. Syrian Enana Harba supports the team in the polyclinic in Eskişehir. She says, "As a refugee myself, I feel people, I understand their psychology and I can support them at the centre in their own language”.
Ensuring equitable access to health care for refugees and migrants in Turkey... 4
In the foreigners' polyclinic in Eskişehir, Dr Dilek provides follow-up and contributes to education on reproductive health for women and girls. "It is essential to increase health literacy among refugee and migrant families; they're not always aware of this kind of services and that reduces the demand for care", she explains. "Reducing linguistic barriers and taking a culturally sensitive approach is key".
Ensuring equitable access to health care for refugees and migrants in Turkey... 5
Breakdown in health systems in countries of origin, barriers to accessing services or inability to complete vaccination schedules owing to mobility can lead to lack of immunization among refugee and migrants, particularly children. In Turkey, primary health-care settings, such as the polyclinic in Eskişehir, provide routine and catch-up immunization services, thus helping to protect migrant and host communities.
Ensuring equitable access to health care for refugees and migrants in Turkey... 6
Information systems that collect accurate and relevant data on health status and health needs of refugees and migrants are essential for the delivery of high-quality and appropriate health care. WHO recommends that their information should be integrated into national systems to ensure better quality of care and health protection for all, while ensuring privacy, standardization and comparability of records.