94 Access to health care among migrants in Finland: structural barriers and group differences

Abstract OP 14: Health Services 3, B302 (FCSH), September 3, 2025, 17:00 - 18:00 Background Access to health care varies across socio-demographic factors, and migrants may face specific barriers despite often perceiving access more positively than the general population. We aim to assess what factors influence migrants’ perceptions of access to health care, how structural barriers—such as waiting times, costs, opening hours and language issues—impact their access to health care, whether these challenges differ across immigrant groups, and how they compare to those faced by the general population. Methods Nationally representative data from the cross-sectional survey on health, well-being, and service use among the foreign-born population (MoniSuomi, response rate 44.1%, N = 7838) were used to assess potential barriers to access to health care. Weights were applied to adjust the sample. Data from the Healthy Finland Survey (response rate 46.3%, N = 28,154) were used as general population reference group. Results Long waiting times were the most frequently reported barrier to health care for both migrants and the general population (60% vs. 76%), followed by high costs. More than one-third of migrants stated that a lack of common language, restrictive opening hours, and insufficient information had hindered their access to care. There were significant differences between regions of origin and between sex in their experiences of barriers to access to care. All migrants, especially those originating from the Middle East and North Africa, were more likely to report insufficient information as a barrier to health care compared to general population. In contrast, migrants from other African countries were less likely to cite information deficits as an obstacle. Conclusions Migrants’ experiences with healthcare services align with those of the general population but differ across regions of origin and genders. Improved communication regarding service locations, content, and procedures could enhance migrants’ experiences, and ensuring access to interpreters when needed would further facilitate their access to health care.