Жилищната среда и здравеопазването – стратегически приоритети на политиките за интегриране на ромите
Residential environment and health care – strategic priorities of the Roma integration policies

Summary/Abstract: The current paper is dedicated to recent topics connected to the strategic priorities of integration outlined in the “National strategy of the Republic of Bulgaria for the integration of Roma people (2012–2020)”, namely: residential environment and health care. Alongside these priorities, the Strategy refers to education and employment, which both predetermine the priority spheres for integration of the Roma community. In the sphere of residential environment, there is an emphasis on the following conflict: the right for an individual decision and choice of residential concept against the public strategies for development of the Roma residential environment. The counteraction from the Roma side often “narrows down” the possibilities to find the right solutions to their residential problem that the relevant authorities can apply. It is highlighted that the restriction/wiping out of the so-called “separate neighborhoods”, which deepen the process of their social exclusion is of a great importance to the younger Roma generation. A special place is dedicated to the problem of illegal construction and removal of illegal residential buildings, which is painful for both the Roma community and the whole society. The author expresses an opinion that an offering of alternative residential buildings to the affected Roma families should precede the removal of illegal residential buildings. It has been discovered that the practice of improving the residential environment with the implementation of pilot projects, mainly related to the construction of social residential buildings, has a particularly positive effect. The paper presents strategic goals and directions in the area of Roma housing policy in a synthesized manner. In relation to healthcare as a vital priority of the Roma integration policy, it is noted that the success of the protection of health passes through the development of a modern health culture of the Roma population. In the research, an analysis has been done and appropriate conclusions have been formulated for the health status of the Roma population. On this basis, as well as based on the necessity for development of a health culture, specific measures and recommendations have been defined in order to increase the access of the Roma population to health services – prevention and quality treatment. It is noted that the topic of using health services by uninsured persons/Roma individuals provokes justified discussions. The author thinks that additional legal changes are necessary. The current research is a source of realistically useful information for decision-making by the relevant competent authorities in the sphere of developing a residential environment and achieving a quality healthcare for the Roma population.

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