Medizinische Versorgung von Flüchtlingen durch den Öffentlichen Gesundheitsdienst: Allzeit bereit – nur wie lange noch?

Abstract

Refugees continue seeking sanctuary in Germany and it can reasonably be expected that their health will be affected by the conditions they lived in before and during flight. Ensuring nationwide care for refugees should be demand oriented, effective and efficient, which requires tackling mostly similar challenges a community level in a consistent manner. The aim must be providing adequate medical care based on the principle of respect for human dignity and ensuring public health standards. Within the currently situation, this basic expectations are often not sufficiently met. Generally accepted national standards, longer-term strategies and sustainable care are not yet achieved noticeably by public health services in Germany.To warrant permanent and sustainable high-quality medical care for refugees, local networks of involved institutions should be established with a longer-term perspective. Moreover, the financially eroded and personnel thinned public health service will only be able to fulfil statutory requirements and expectations of the local, state and federal policy makers for a limited amount of time only. Safeguarding that services are coping with the size of challenges over longer periods of time and anchoring the acquired expertise of medical care for refugees within the public health services, requires immediately better financial and personnel resources. Then the public health services will be a reliable partner supporting all people in Germany, particularly those that require subsidiary and socially-compensatory supply.

Medizinische Versorgung von Flüchtlingen: Chancen und Herausforderungen in Hamburg – ein Praxisbericht

“…Dies erfordert eine gute Koordination der öffentlichen Gesundheitsversorgung. In Hamburg hat diese Funktion der Öffentliche Gesundheitsdienst (ÖGD) übernommen, der aufgrund der zusätzlichen Aufgaben einer Stärkung bedarf [4].…”

Wenn Zufall über den Zugang zur Gesundheitsversorgung bestimmt: Geflüchtete in Deutschland

“…Mit dem Ermessenspielraum geht jedoch auch eine Verantwortung auf die Kommunen über, der sie aufgrund der unzureichenden finanziellen und personellen Ressourcen, speziell im Öffentlichen Gesundheitsdienst (ÖGD), nicht immer gerecht werden können. Hier fehlen bundeseinheitliche Vorgaben oder Orientierungshilfen, damit die Versorgung von Geflüchteten nicht allein und langfristig auf ehrenamtlichem Engagement oder ad-hoc-Lösungen basieren muss [8].…”

Religion as a Resource? The Impact of Religiosity on the Sense of Purpose in Life of Young Muslim Refugees in Germany - postprint

“…Obviously, many refugees are affected by the conditions they lived in before and during their flight, and their precarious situation in the new host country may also impair their physical health. In Germany, however, refugees do not always receive appropriate medical care (Tinnemann et al, 2016). Additionally, refugees are often not aware of their rights and opportunities regarding public health care (Kotovicz et al, 2018).…”