The Expert Group on Ukraine, based at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University in Prague, published a policy brief on the Czech healthcare system's response to the arrival of refugees from Ukraine. The document outlines the current state of healthcare provision for refugees from Ukraine and shares recommendations for policy makers.
In the Czech Republic, refugees from Ukraine are entitled to health services covered by public health insurance. The brief observes that while those who have used these health services (less than 50% of the refugee population) appreciate their financial accessibility, they have also experienced unfair treatment and refusal by medical providers. Primary care physicians - especially at UA points (healthcare points dedicated to care for those from Ukraine), hospital emergency rooms and primary care - are seeing an increased workload in the context of the high numbers of new arrivals from Ukraine, and are often not equipped with the necessary intercultural competences to support them. Both health professionals and refugees feel they lack adequate health information.
The policy brief makes the following key recommendations:
- Maximise the potential of refugee health personnel
- Simplify the process for securing a license to practice medicine in the country
- Strengthen the capacity of professional language courses
- Concentrate information in one place
- Strengthen the intercultural competences of health professionals
- Preserve public health insurance coverage for refugee health services
Details
- Authors
- PhDr. Karolína Dobiášová, Ph.D., Ing. Zuzana Kotherová, Ph.D.
- Geographic area
- Czech Republic
- Contributor type
- Academics and experts
- Original source
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