In the search of solutions to improve healthcare access for migrants and refugees in Athens, Greece

Abstract

Abstract Background Migrants and refugees face many challenges in their effort to access the health services. The Metaplan© methodology was applied to generate and prioritize solutions and tools for pilot interventions to improve migrants’ healthcare access in Athens. Methods. The Metaplan sessions included three groups: professionals working with refugees and migrants, mixed gender French-speaking migrants and refugees, and unaccompanied minors (11-16yrs). Results Professionals prioritized the communication issue, particularly a proper delivery of the language courses, and the enhancement of cultural competence in professionals. Besides, the instrumentalization of ‘vulnerability’ was focused on the relocation assessment. They suggested trainings to improve the collaboration between interpreters and professionals and build cultural competence, along with creation of migrant-friendly hospitals. The migrants underscored a gap between their needs and the current efforts to support their integration, such as language courses, job consultancy, and general information. Their access to health services was hindered by the lack of language skills and intercultural competences of providers. The migrants prioritized initiatives to overcome the challenges of everyday life, raise awareness and sensitize the local community on their realities, and tackle racism. The unaccompanied minors underlined the lack of shelters and a long bureaucratic procedure for the placement in a shelter as some experienced homelessness. They also pointed out the inefficiency of emergency health services. The solutions as perceived by this group included a proper assignment of homeless minors to shelters, better emergency units and more information about the health services. Conclusions The trainings for both health professionals and interpreters for the interdisciplinary cooperation and enhanced cultural competence are needed, along with informative workshops and flyers on health rights and services.