Refugees and Health in Switzerland

Abstract

Refugees and people with refugee backgrounds are a significant and socially distinct group in Switzerland. They are burdened by their past, e.g. they may be suffering ongoing trauma due to personal experiences of violence and torture, or having continuing social and psychological problems. Little research has been done into the psycho-social situations of refugees in Switzerland in recent decades, even if health is considered an important resource for refugees, e.g. for language learning and labour market participation. Currently available data and literature on the health of refugees in Switzerland indicate that refugees are an at-risk group, regardless of their country of origin. At the same time, individual health and wellbeing are considered important resources for newly-arriving refugees. While current public and political debates focus mainly on the challenges of labour market participation, they leave out discussion of the health of refugees and what measures should be introduced to improve it. Therefore, the health situation of refugees in Switzerland is somewhat ambiguous: On the one hand, general health treatment is covered by the obligatory health insurance scheme, but on the other hand, access to special treatment is limited because of a lack of treatment capacities, e.g. for trauma. Because health is so important, there is an urgent need to ensure that refugees have access to sufficient medical and psychological treatment, close to their arrival in Switzerland.