14.M. Workshop: Health policy responses to the European “refugee crisis”

Abstract

Abstract This workshop explores how health systems in Europe have responded to the so-called “refugee crisis” in 2015 and what lessons can be drawn for the future. Based on contributions to a Special Issue of Health Policy, it offers a platform for sharing examples from across Europe, facilitating cross-country learning. Although the arrival of large numbers of new migrants in Europe in 2015 was often portrayed as a crisis or a threat and has exposed a lack of preparedness and responsiveness in many countries, many things have worked well in the reception of and provision for newly arriving migrants. There have been instructive case studies and sometimes things worked well without further ado and for this reason went unnoticed. While the exact dynamics of future migratory movements are difficult to predict and depend on sometimes questionable “deals with the devil” at the EU's outside borders, refugees will continue to come to Europe and health systems have to be prepared to respond to their needs. This workshop aims to build on recent experience and inform current debates on how health systems can best respond. It provides examples from three European countries (Austria, Germany and Finland) that have been at the forefront of receiving migrants. The first presentation, on Finland, recalls how this country received one of the highest numbers of refugees per capita and how its parallel system of health services coped with this influx. The second presentation, using the example of one federal state in Germany, illustrates that there is sometimes considerable scope for action at the local level and provides examples of how this scope can best be used. The third presentation explores how mental health needs of refugees develop in the asylum process. It argues that for more cooperation on this issue and the existence of low threshold services. A final presentation, on Austria, illustrates the needs of undocumented migrants in Vienna. It argues that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a crucial role in providing accessible health services and that they can also help in public health surveillance and data collection. The workshop will provide opportunity for the audience to comment on and discuss presentations and to consider current policy options in Europe to better address the health needs of newly arrived migrants. It will also ask what barriers exist that existing good practices are not being taken up. The workshop will be of interest to public health researchers, practitioners and policy-makers working on migration-related issues across Europe. Key messages The workshop provides a forum for discussing European responses to the 2015 “refugee crisis”. It explores health policy options at the European and national level.