Public policy toward immigrants: challenges in accessing Primary Health Care (PHC) services in Lajeado/RS

Abstract

This article refers to some sections of a larger study in the field of Regional Development, conducted in the city of Lajeado/RS in 2021. Two of the healthcare service units that serve the largest number of immigrants in the city were selected, namely the São José Praia Family Health Strategy (ESF) and the Moinhos Basic Health Unit (UBS), and, additionally, the 16^th Regional Health Coordination (CRS), which is in charge of the services in the region. Based on the selection of healthcare service units, an investigation using a qualitative approach was carried out, with semi-structured interviews with a total of 13 subjects, including 8 health professionals, 4 Haitian immigrants, and 1 manager, who was the regional coordinator of Primary Health Care Policy. The objective of this study was to contextualize the challenges in accessing services provided to immigrants in the Brazilian Universal Healthcare Program (SUS — Single Healthcare System). Based on the research results, the need for specific public policies to be created in SUS for immigrants was identified, as it was found that the planning of health actions should take into account the cultural influence of these subjects, therefore, there is a need for public policies that meet the specificities arising from cultural factors to be created. In addition, among the main results of this research, the language barrier, and religious and health rites were pointed out as challenges to be taken into account in the provision of healthcare services to immigrants in terms of PHC in Lajeado/RS. It was found that the formulation of specific public policies for this community is important to reduce inequalities in the provision of services and discrimination in relation to the cultural practices of immigrants in the health system.