[Adapting health services to the specific needs and utilization patterns of the new Spaniards. 2008 SESPAS Report].
Because of the progressive increase in the number of immigrants and the uncertainty about the capacity of the Spanish health service to deal with the quantitative and qualitative increases in demand, the possibility of introducing changes to adapt our services to the new situation should be considered. Beginning with an analysis of the factors that influence health status and use of the health service, based on the National Health Survey (NHS), the European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) and the European Community Household Panel (ECHP), we compare the health profiles and patterns of medical resources utilization between the national and foreign populations. The pattern of demand for health services in the immigrant population corresponds basically to the needs of a young population in good health. According to NHS data, resource utilization among immigrants can even be lower than that among the national population. Assessing the link between health status and demand for healthcare from a dynamic point of view, by identifying variations in patterns of health and patterns of demand for healthcare, is important to identify imbalances in resources and to establish an appropriate hierarchy of preventive and treatment priorities.
Ribera
Berta
B
Escuela Gallega de Administración Sanitaria, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, España. Berta.Rivera.Castineira@sergas.es
Casal
Bruno
B
Cantarero
David
D
Pascual
Marta
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006298:Health Services Administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain; D014171:Transients and Migrants