TOWARD INCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE: EXPLORING HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS' PERCEPTIONS OF MULTICULTURAL PATIENTS IN NORTH MACEDONIA
TOWARD INCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE: EXPLORING HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS' PERCEPTIONS OF MULTICULTURAL PATIENTS IN NORTH MACEDONIA

Summary/Abstract: Introduction: This paper sets a comprehensive framework for understanding the healthcare challenges encountered by multicultural patients in North Macedonia, particularly amidst the migrant-refugee crisis. It highlights these populations' diverse needs and obstacles, including cultural differences, language barriers, and socioeconomic disparities. The introduction also contextualizes these challenges within the broader legal and humanitarian obligations of North Macedonia to provide healthcare to migrants and refugees on its territory. Purpose: Provides an overview of the legislative frameworks and policies governing healthcare access for migrants, both internationally and nationally. This contextualization helps establish the importance and urgency of addressing these challenges to ensure healthcare equity and inclusivity for all individuals. Methodology: The study methodology is introduced, detailing the data collection approach through evidence synthesis, surveys among healthcare workers, and subsequent statistical analysis. By outlining the research objectives and methods, the introduction effectively sets the stage for the study, emphasizing the significance of understanding healthcare professionals' perspectives in addressing the identified challenges. Results: Moving to the results, the study provides valuable insights into the perceptions and experiences of healthcare workers in Gevgelija and Kumanovo regarding delivering healthcare services to migrant and refugee populations. Including a representative sample of 60 healthcare workers from General Hospitals in these areas adds credibility to the findings. Conclusions: This paper emphasizes the need for concerted efforts to improve healthcare access and quality for migrants. It proposes strategies to address negative attitudes, enhance cultural competencies, and overcome language barriers. It calls for systemic changes and interinstitutional cooperation to better serve migrant populations and uphold their right to health. Recommendations: Key findings regarding service provision, communication barriers, patient refusal factors, and differences in healthcare service types between locations are highlighted. Additionally, the results underscore the challenges faced by healthcare workers, such as language barriers and institutional constraints, and the willingness expressed by some to work with migrant and refugee patients.

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