[The impact of the economic crisis on the health and healthcare of the immigrant population. SESPAS report 2014].
Despite the economic crisis, the immigrant population of Spain continues to be high, with 5.7 million persons (11.4%). This population, whose health needs are similar to those of the general population, is more vulnerable due to their exposure to worse social determinants (living and working conditions together with a higher risk of exclusion from social services). In this article, we analyze how the economic crisis affects or can affect the health of the immigrant population in Spain by examining distinct population-specific or institutional factors that influence the effects of the crisis and the available data. The available evidence is limited, but several effects can be identified: firstly, some social determinants, such as higher unemployment rates and worse working conditions, have deteriorated, which can be expected to lead to a worsening of health status. These consequences have already been described for mental health or have been estimated for infectious diseases. Secondly, political decisions have had a direct impact, excluding-with some exceptions-undocumented immigrants from the right to health care. Finally, the lower priority given to adapting health services to the specific characteristics of the immigrant population (most of whom are documented) together with the introduction of new barriers, has hampered or will hamper access to health care. As a result, the economic crisis can be expected to have a greater impact on the immigrant population.
Grup de Recerca en Polítiques de Salut i Serveis Sanitaris, Servei d'Estudis i Prospectives en Polítiques de Salut, Consorci de Salut i Social de Catalunya (CSC), Barcelona, España. Electronic address: mlvazquez@consorci.org.
María Luisa
ML
Vázquez
Grup de Recerca en Polítiques de Salut i Serveis Sanitaris, Servei d'Estudis i Prospectives en Polítiques de Salut, Consorci de Salut i Social de Catalunya (CSC), Barcelona, España.
Ingrid
I
Vargas
Grup de Recerca en Polítiques de Salut i Serveis Sanitaris, Servei d'Estudis i Prospectives en Polítiques de Salut, Consorci de Salut i Social de Catalunya (CSC), Barcelona, España.
Marta-Beatriz
MB
Aller
D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D057172:Economic Recession; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013030:Spain
Accesibilidad a los servicios de salud; Calidad de la atención de salud; Delivery of health care; Economic recession; Emigrantes e inmigrantes; Emigrants and immigrants; Health; Health policy; Health services accessibility; Política de salud; Prestación de atención de salud; Quality of health care; Recesión económica; Salud