Transnational Patients: Practical and Ethical Implications for Medical Practices and Health Promotions Policy

Abstract

Health care is becoming increasingly transnational and a shift to more promotive and preventative approaches forms an integral part of addressing challenges to global health and health disparities. Community and public engagement programs are particularly well suited to successfully developing care that is resonant and meaningful in transnational contexts. Yet many existing programs do not take into account the diverse perspectives of the heterogeneous group of transnational patients, and guidelines that address their specific needs are still scarce. At the same time, little has been done to build a framework to share successful local programs with a broader community. We thus propose a global database of best practices and guidelines for transnational health‐care promotions to improve health care and well‐being across diverse communities, consisting of a three‐step assessment in order to successfully design locally adapted programs that are accepted by target populations and successfully engage transnational patients and their health‐care providers.

Flourishing: migration and health in social context

“…As a result, they will be better equipped to confront obstacles to flourishing and health that stem from language and sociocultural differences, bureaucracy, discrimination and poverty. 38 Clinical interventions alone will not promote flourishing-or health-among migrant patients. But clinicians can develop new modes of 'prescribing'for instance, by using integrative healing strategies in the same way some primary care clinicians prescribe food, and some paediatricians prescribe books or reading.…”

“…On a related note, health providers and institutions must develop the skills and infrastructure needed for effective partnership and collaboration between care providers and non-medical organisations and institutions —including stakeholders in law, public health and human rights 38. Clinical interventions alone will not promote flourishing—or health—among migrant patients.…”