ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES WITH THE GENE RAL-PRACTITIONER - MAIN PROBLEM AREAS AND VENUES FOR IMPROVEMENT

Health and health services provided to asylum seekers and refugees by the Swiss National Health System have so far not been systematically i nvestigated. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe the attending asylum seekers and refugees demographically and clinically to identify main problem areas as perceived by general practitioners a nd to highlight options and venues for improvements. 272 questionnaire s have been filled in by GPs of eight ''federal districts'' (Kantone) and the consultations of 1477 asylum seekers and refugees have been do cumented during one month in 193 surgeries. The documented asylum seek ers and refugees reflected the distribution of this population in Swit zerland. Low consultation rates of asylum seekers and refugees in the majority of surgeries and high diversity of this population in respect to places of origin, education and proficiency in languages appear to be the major determinants of the difficulties in providing adequate h ealth services to them. Readily available information on the past medi cal history and on the ethnic background of these patients and continu ing education on specific topics concerning health care for asylum see kers and refugees were thought to be particularly useful. This needs t o be considered in the planning of services for this group. General pr actitioners specialized in health care for asylum seekers and refugees is an option for providing improved specific services (interpreters, institutional links, culturally adapted medical care).