Problems refugees face when accessing health services

Refugees settling in western countries face many difficulties in accessing effective health care.These have been widely documented by health service providers, 1,2,3,4 and in studies of resettled refugee populations. 5,6,7This article describes the particular problems that refugees face in accessing effective health care and some of the ways in which health services can respond.BACKGROUND Some 600,000 refugees have settled in Australia since the end of World War II. 8Of the 12,000 people who receive humanitarian visas each year to migrate to or stay in Australia, 40 per cent settle in NSW.NSW is also home to over 2000 people released from immigration detention centres on Temporary Protection Visas, and to an uncertain number of asylum seekers who are living in the community while their applications for protection are processed.Refugees, and people of refugee-like background, are recognised as one of the most vulnerable groups in NSW society. 9They have specific health care needs-which arise from the adverse effects of conflict and forced exilewith experiences of persecution, psychological trauma, deprivation, unhealthy environmental conditions, and disrupted access to health care.