Constitutional provisions and health care services for illegal immigrants in some federal and regional EU member States: looking for best practices

Abstract

This paper deals with the health care services provided to illegal immigrants in three EU member States: Italy, Germany and Spain. The three countries have been chosen since they represent different levels of sub-national autonomy: a federal (Germany), a regional (Italy) and a community system (Spain). These three models provide different competences to Länder, regions and autonomous communities regarding health care services for illegal immigrants. In its first part, this paper describes the patterns of health protection adopted in the mentioned countries, in order to show differences and similarities, but also to evaluate possible best practices which allow better and more efficient services in this area. The second part of the paper illustrates special forms of health care services granted at local level. This represents a change of perspective which shows that local interventions and projects seem to be more effective than programs conducted at sub-national level. The paper concludes with the description of successful strategies and examples which could be adopted or implemented also at regional level, improving the quality of health care services granted to illegal immigrants.This paper deals with the health care services provided to illegal immigrants in three EU member States: Italy, Germany and Spain. The three countries have been chosen since they represent different levels of sub-national autonomy: a federal (Germany), a regional (Italy) and a community system (Spain). These three models provide different competences to Länder, regions and autonomous communities regarding health care services for illegal immigrants. In its first part, this paper describes the patterns of health protection adopted in the mentioned countries, in order to show differences and similarities, but also to evaluate possible best practices which allow better and more efficient services in this area. The second part of the paper illustrates special forms of health care services granted at local level. This represents a change of perspective which shows that local interventions and projects seem to be more effective than programs conducted at sub-national level. The paper concludes with the description of successful strategies and examples which could be adopted or implemented also at regional level, improving the quality of health care services granted to illegal immigrants.Refereed Working Papers / of international relevanc