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. 2009 Oct;59(567):765-72.
doi: 10.3399/bjgp09X472539.

Asylum seekers, refugees, and the politics of access to health care: a UK perspective

Keith Taylor  1
Affiliations

Asylum seekers, refugees, and the politics of access to health care: a UK perspective

Keith Taylor. Br J Gen Pract. 2009 Oct.

Abstract

The UK government has recently consulted on proposals to prohibit access to health care for some asylum seekers. This discussion paper considers the wider ethical, moral, and political issues that may arise from this policy. In particular, it explores the relationship between immigration and health and examines the impact of forced migration on health inequalities. It will be argued that it is both unethical and iniquitous to use health policy as a means of enforcing immigration policy. Instead, the founding principle of the NHS of equal access on the basis of need should be borne in mind when considering how to meet the needs of this population.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Model of health effects of forced migration and refugee status.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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