Integrating Venezuelan migrants into the Colombian health system during COVID-19
This study analysed access to and disparities in the use of health-care services for both Colombians and Venezuelan migrants.
Abstract
Colombia provides a unique setting to understand the complicated interaction between health systems, health insurance, migrant populations, and COVID-19 due to its system of Universal Health Coverage and its hosting of approximately 1.8 million Venezuelan migrants.
Using self-reported enrolment in one of the several Colombian health insurance schemes, this study analysed access to and disparities in the use of health-care services for both Colombians and Venezuelan migrants. The study found enrolling Venezuelan migrants in national health insurance schemes increased their access to health-care services, and equality between Colombians and Venezuelans within the same insurance schemes. Compared with 3.6% of Colombians, 73.6% of Venezuelans surveyed remained uninsured, despite enabling policies. More needs to be done to remove barriers to health insurance enrolment for Venezuelan migrants.
This research was supported by the Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) Programme.
Citation
Diana M. Bowser and others. ‘Integrating Venezuelan migrants into the Colombian health system during COVID-19’ Health Systems and Reform 2022:, volume 8, issue 1
Links
Integrating Venezuelan migrants into the Colombian health system during COVID-19