Rights of access to healthcare for undocumented migrants : understanding the Italian and British national health systems
License
Access Rights
Cadmus Permanent Link
Full-text via DOI
ISBN
ISSN
2056-4902
Issue Date
Type of Publication
LC Subject Heading
Other Topic(s)
EUI Research Cluster(s)
Initial version
Published version
Succeeding version
Preceding version
Published version part
Earlier different version
Initial format
Citation
International journal of human rights in health care, 2018, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 232-243
Cite
DA COSTA LEITE BORGES, Danielle, GUIDI, Caterina Francesca, Rights of access to healthcare for undocumented migrants : understanding the Italian and British national health systems, International journal of human rights in health care, 2018, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 232-243 - https://hdl.handle.net/1814/60013
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the levels of access to healthcare available to undocumented migrants in the Italian and British health systems through a comparative analysis of health policies for this population in these two national health systems. Design/methodology/approach It builds on textual and legal analysis to explore the different meanings that the principle of universal access to healthcare might have according to literature and legal documents in the field, especially those from the human rights domain. Then, the concept of universal access, in theory, is contrasted with actual health policies in each of the selected countries to establish its meaning in practice and according to the social context. The analysis relies on policy papers, data on health expenditure, legal statutes and administrative regulations and is informed by one research question: What background conditions better explain more universal and comprehensive health systems for undocumented migrants? Findings By answering this research question the paper concludes that the Italian health system is more comprehensive than the British health system insofar it guarantees access free of charge to different levels of care, including primary, emergency, preventive and maternity care, while the rule in the British health system is the recovering of charges for the provision of services, with few exceptions. One possible legal explanation for the differences in access between Italy and UK is the fact that the right to health is not recognised as a fundamental constitutional right in the latter as it is in the former. Originality/value The paper contributes to ongoing debates on Universal Health Coverage and migration, and dialogues with recent discussions on social justice and welfare state typologies.
Table of Contents
Additional Information
Accepted: 05 April 2018