Disparities in Access to Healthcare Among Immigrants in Türki̇ye

Türkiye is hosting 5.1 million foreign people with 3.8 million seeking international protection. The categorization of the legal status of the migrants as refugees, conditional refugees, and subsidiary protections has been made by the Law of Foreigners and International Protection, and defined as international protection status. According to the Turkish Presidency of Migration Management, most of the immigrants in Türkiye are Syrians who have been granted temporary protection status. In Türkiye, the rate of inequalities in access to health and healthcare is high and evident among immigrants who are already in a disadvantageous position. The aim of this study is, initially, to identify structural and political factors that lead to immigrants having different immigration statuses in accessing health services. Secondly, even if immigrants have access to health services according to their immigration status, the obstacles they face in accessing health services may occur due to SES differences. Therefore, the fundamental cause theory has been used to explain disparities in access to healthcare for the immigrants in Türkiye. In addition to potential policy changes regarding the regulation of the legal statuses, the importance of social determinants of health practices has been highlighted and further practices have been suggested in this regard.