Health care and the situation concerning the health of foreigners in the Czech Republic
The access of foreigners to health care services makes up one of a number of areas included in the collection of additional measures aimed at supporting the integration of foreigners as outlined in the “Procedure for the Implementation of an updated Concept for the Integration of Foreigners with mutual Respect 2018” document. The WHO international health organisation defines health as the ability to lead a socially and economically productive life. Based on this definition, health can be perceived as both an aim in itself and as a means via which to ensure the harmonious development of humankind. Therefore, information on the situation concerning health and the take-up of health care services is able to make a major contribution to the creation of the appropriate societal conditions that allow people to realise the full potential of health. The project focuses on the mapping of the specifics of the public health care conditions and health situation of foreigners from third countries on the basis of the analysis of National Health Information System (NZIS) data sources for the whole of the Czech Republic and the conducting of a field questionnaire survey in 5 regions of the country in which the share of foreigners in the population varies from 37% to 6% (the capital city, Prague and the Central Bohemian, South Moravian, Usti-nad-Labem and Pilsen regions).
It is necessary for Czech society in general to map and supplement information on the take-up of health care services and the health situation of foreigners on the basis of the relevant available data and the research findings of the relevant experts. Two of the most important areas surrounding this issue consist, for example, of the level of trust that foreigners have in the quality of healthcare provided in the Czech Republic and the strategy adopted by foreigners with respect to solving health problems. A further area of interest concerns the personal approach and sense of responsibility of different generations of foreigners of varying nationalities to their own health situation. The information acquired through the research has significant potential both for the formulation of measures for the integration of foreigners with concern to their health situation and the take-up of health care services and for discussion on this theme between the various ministries concerned.