102 The challenges of equity in health care access: insights from older Indian Migrants in Melbourne, Australia

OP 3: Health Services 5, B304 (FCSH), September 3, 2025, 14:30 - 15:30 Little is known about access to health care amongst older Indian migrants in Australia. This is a problem, because equitable health outcomes require a good understanding of the obstacles and facilitators encountered by specific cultural and language groups in accessing health care services. In this study, qualitative research was conducted with 55 older adults from India living in Melbourne, Victoria, to investigate their experiences and perceptions of engaging with health care services in Australia. Our findings highlight the multifaceted dimensions of health care perceptions, including socioeconomic factors, social standing, family dynamics, knowledge about health care services and migration experiences. Participants commonly expressed their appreciation for the health care infrastructure, after-care procedures and transparency of medical transactions in Australia. However, they also reported challenges related to cultural competence, affordability and ease of navigation of the health care system. A significant theme that emerged from the interviews was the role of health beliefs in shaping perceptions and expectations of health care. In particular, past and present experiences of healthcare in India have a significant influence on experiences and expectations of healthcare services in Australia. The lack of consideration of these culturally diverse, often transnational health experiences and beliefs is a contributing factor to inequity in health outcomes and systemic racism in healthcare services in Australia. We conclude by reflecting on the interplay between these various factors, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive health care that pays attention to how migrant experiences of health care in their country of origin may influence their perceptions and experiences of access to health care in the host country.