Strengthening Diversity – Promoting Health
More than 23.9 million people in Germany have a migration history (Destatis 2023). These include immigrants, descendants of immigrants and people who have been forced to flee their home countries. We live in a diverse society. The following applies to all people with a migration history: Health equality is a key component of integration and a prerequisite for participation.
Migration and integration
The demographic changes in Germany, the large number of people with a migration history who have been living in Germany for many years and the intensive skilled labour recruitment drive have also led directly to various policy-making tasks for the Federal Ministry of Health. For example:
- Analysing and assessing public health issues in connection with migrant healthcare.
- Supporting national, European and international legislative proposals on migration and integration.
- Assisting in international political processes in the area of migration
- Shaping the Federal Government’s integration policy with regard to health
- Developing and funding innovative measures and pilot projects
When planning and implementing measures, the Federal Ministry of Health’s entire thematic spectrum is covered.
Target group-specific communication and information
People who need medical or care-related assistance can count on Germany’s healthcare system. Reliable and efficient, it ensures that all people receive the treatment and support they need.
Multilingual information materials facilitate access to healthcare for people with migration histories and enable better health literacy. The ongoing improvement of target group-specific information on the German healthcare system is a key priority for the Federal Ministry of Health. The Ministry provides publications and materials on various health topics in over 40 languages on its multilingual portal “Migration und Gesundheit” (Migration and health).
Further information:
- Digital brochure: Health for all
This multilingual guide contains information about the German healthcare system as well as various healthcare topics. - Web portal: Migration und Gesundheit (Migration and health)
This multilingual web portal offers a range of brochures and information materials in multiple languages about the German healthcare system and various healthcare topics.
Transcultural opening
In healthcare and long-term care, people from very different cultures meet in sensitive situations. Interacting with people, whose roots are outside Germany, represents a particular challenge in health and long-term care. The Federal Ministry of Health strengthens culture-sensitive communication in outpatient and inpatient settings by developing and implementing measures to promote transcultural skills, for instance in long-term care, hospice care and palliative care.
Examples of pilot projects:
- "Vielfalt Pflegen" (Nursing diversity) eLearning platform to promote transcultural care skills
- Brückenbauer*innen in der Hospiz- und Palliativversorgung (Bridge-builders in Hospice and Palliative Care)
Skilled labour recruitment and integration
Due to the demographic trends in Germany, the need for health and care professionals is also growing. Increasing the number of immigrating professionals and sustainably integrating people with a migration history into the health and care profession labour market is one of the most important political tasks. The Federal Ministry of Health is therefore piloting projects on professional, linguistic and sociocultural integration. These also include instruments to convey quality-assuring training, occupation and job-related language skills, such as blended specialist language learning.
Examples of pilot projects:
- Integration im Gesundheitswesen (INGE) Praxishandbuch (Practical guide on integration in healthcare)
- Digital-interaktive Ausbildung von Pflegepersonal mit Migrationshintergrund (Digital-Interactive Education of Nursing Staff with Migration Background)
Prevention
It is in the Federal Ministry of Health’s interests to improve access to preventive and health promotion services for people with migration histories. This should help prevent health risks and strengthen health awareness. The Federal Ministry of Health is developing and funding projects to strengthen primary and secondary prevention, for instance in the areas of vaccination and diabetes or to promote health among older people with migration histories through sports and exercise.
Example of a pilot project:
- Gesundheitsförderung älterer Menschen mit Zuwanderungsgeschichte (Health promotion among older people with migration histories)
Improving the body of data
Good healthcare for everyone is only possible when a specific healthcare need is determined in concrete terms. A meaningful body of data on the health status of people with migration histories allows for better identification of needs and, as a result, target group-specific optimisation. The Federal Ministry of Health is therefore promoting various research projects in order to improve the data basis upon which public health decisions are made.
Cooperation with migrant organisations
Migrant organisations are important stakeholders within civil society and form a bridge to people with migration histories through their specific access. With their work in various areas of society, they contribute significantly towards integrating people, irrespective of whether these have lived here for longer or are only just arriving in Germany. The Federal Ministry of Health is working together with various clubs and organisations in a spirit of partnership to, for instance, jointly develop and implement measures to eliminate barriers to accessing healthcare.