Loyola University, Chicago, IL, United States; University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Blum, J., Loyola University, Chicago, IL, United States; Carstens, P., University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Talib, N., University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The focus of this paper will be on how health care systems in three countries, Malaysia, South Africa and the United States, are responding to the health needs of immigrants with a strong focus on the legal aspects of the respective national responses. The Malaysia portion emphasizes legal immigration and analyses as to how the country's Ministry of Health and the delivery system itself is responding to the demands of immigrant's health. In the context of South Africa, the paper explores implications of the South African Constitution, which establishes a right to access health care, and explores whether such a right can be extended to non-citizens, or can be tempered by economic constraints. In the American discussion the focus is on whether publicly supported health care programs can be accessed to provide coverage for undocumented residents, and highlights recent constraints in using government monies in this area. © Yozmot 2005.
acquired immune deficiency syndrome; article; budget; economic aspect; emergency health service; government; health care access; health care delivery; health care facility; health care need; health care policy; health care system; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; human rights; immigrant; immigration; legal aspect; malaria; Malaysia; medicaid; refugee; resource allocation; South Africa; tuberculosis; United States; Health Care and Public Health; Delivery of Health Care; Emigration and Immigration; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Malaysia; South Africa; United States