The Health of Migrants

This chapter focuses on the relationship between migration and health at a time when the Italian National Healthcare System (NHS) is undergoing a transformation and policy-makers are trying to streamline resources and re-think how healthcare services are organised and provided to citizens. Through a comparative analysis, the chapter touches upon issues related to access and use of healthcare services by immigrants, also in consideration of their legal status and touches upon the relationship between the central governments and regional authorities, which is often tense. The final part of the chapter focuses on the actual and perceived health condition of migrants in Italy, on their habits and on the system through which migrants access health services. To this end, a comparison is madebetween migrants from Countries with a Strong Migratory Pressure (CSMP), migrants from Industrialised Countries (IC) and Italian-born citizens.