HFM- HEALTH FOR MIGRANTS

HFM (Health for Migrants) is based on results from the research project on “Poverty and Equity in Health” sponsored by Region Umbria (Italy) on January2012, coordinated by the University of Perugia (Department of Economics). HFM (Health For Migrants) is a multilingual web platform (available at: www.hfm.unipg.it) and App available on Android devices facilitating access to information regarding health services for migrants. After a first pivotal test launched in December 2014, it is available for free access since January 2015 at:http://www.hfm.unipg.it. HFM is directly sponsored by Region Umbria and Umbrian Local Health Units (ASL) through their official websites that further tested and validated the platform. The HFM platform offers to their users easy to use information on which local services are available and relative rights offered according to the different type of migrant(regular/irregular, EU/non EU country of citizenship), information on how to access public services within interactive geographic mapping of different types of services and a multilingual adaptation of the contents provided in 7 languages, and info on maternal care and childcare (i.e. the agenda of vaccines for newborn babies). The methodology is based on a survey of the relevant literature, on a multisciplinary workgroup ( see http://www.hfm.unipg.it/index.php/en/the-service) Most of the features have been developed and tested in relevant environment, such as the Umbrian Local Health Units. Migrants often have unequal access to health care due to linguistic and cultural barriers, and may not realize they are entitled to health services. In addition, irregular immigrants fear the risk of being discovered. In Italy, the Department of Economics at the University of Perugia and the Umbria Region created an app and website to provide information on health care services in the Umbria Region for all migrants. Available in 7 languages, the Health For Migrants (HFM) app and website provide a user-friendly graphical interface to easily navigate the Italian health system on the services available to all migrants: a complete overview of health services from preventative to emergency, maps to local and regional offices and health care service providers, links to national health services and social service organizations, intercultural mediation services, quick access for maternal and child care. HFM facilitates and improves migrants' access to national health services, breaking down information barriers and thereby promoting health equity. It provides free, multilingual access to health information without requiring any personal information. HFM is directed to the most vulnerable migrants – women and mothers – by also providing information on: mandatory vaccinations, where to find paediatricians and ambulatory care, Italian legislation on child health, how to access a cultural mediation service in the migrant's native language. Tests carried out by the University of Perugia showed that feedback from the first test users (migrants) was so positive that the application could be implemented as a best practice in other European regions.