Patterns of Health System Usage by the Immigrant Population in Europe

Bibliographic Data

ID7990177
AuthorsFernando Pinto Hernández (0000-0003-1525-3206), Alfredo M Cabezas Ares (0000-0002-7065-3889, corresponding author)
EditorsQing-Wei Chen
Year2025
Volume2025
Issue1
Publication date2025-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth & Social Care in the Community (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0966-0410 • E-ISSN: 1365-2524
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1155/hsc/3690527
OpenAlexW4416209181
LanguageEN
References cited21

Introduction International migration has significantly reshaped Europe’s demographic and socioeconomic landscape, influencing healthcare demand and accessibility. Germany, Spain, Italy, and France receive the highest immigrant flows, prompting concerns about disparities in healthcare utilization. Methods This study systematically analyses healthcare usage patterns among immigrants in Europe, leveraging Poisson and Negative Binomial regression models to address overdispersion and model count data robustly, using data from the European Health Interview Survey 2020 (Wave 3). Results The findings indicate clear differences in healthcare utilization across migrant groups. Non‐European migrants were approximately 7% more likely to use general practitioner services (coefficient = 0.070, p < 0.05), while European migrants were 12% less likely to be hospitalized (coefficient = −0.121, p < 0.1) compared to natives. These disparities varied across major immigrant‐receiving countries and other Member States, underscoring the role of healthcare system structures. Conclusion These results highlight the need for targeted policy interventions to mitigate disparities and ensure equitable healthcare access, offering critical insights for evidence‐based policymaking in European health systems. Patient or Public Contribution This study utilized secondary data analysis of the European Health Interview Survey 2020. While there was no direct patient or public involvement in the research design or data collection, immigrant community representatives were consulted during the interpretation phase to validate findings and ensure conclusions accurately reflected lived experiences. Their feedback helped shape policy recommendations outlined in this paper