Migration in health data systems in Chile through a qualitative lens

Foreign-born individuals represent approximately 9% of Chile’s population. Although healthcare access is legally guaranteed regardless of immigration status, migrants continue to face barriers including administrative hurdles, difficulties navigating the public health system, and cultural mismatches in care. These barriers also limit opportunities for systematic data collection and epidemiological surveillance, resulting in an incomplete understanding of migrant health needs and inequalities. This qualitative study examines how migration-related variables are recorded and used in Chile’s health information systems and explores their implications for the inclusion, visibility, and care of migrant populations, with particular attention to the country-of-origin variable. Using the World Café method, structured group discussions were conducted with healthcare workers, policymakers, NGO representatives, researchers, and migrant community advocates. Discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings highlight the importance of integrating migration-related data into health information systems to improve equity-oriented planning and service delivery. Participants emphasized that country-of-origin information can support epidemiological understanding, culturally appropriate care, and resource allocation. However, tensions emerged regarding responsibility for data integration, potential misuse of sensitive information, and the implications for trust and confidentiality. These findings underscore that migration-related variables function not only as technical data elements but also as social and political constructs within health systems, highlighting the need for governance frameworks and culturally responsive approaches to migration data in Chile’s public health system.