Interculturality

According to the Federal Statistical Office, 24.9 million people with a migration background were living in Germany in 2023, representing around 30 per cent of the total population. Their biographies, cultures and countries of origin are diverse, so that they should not be considered to form a homogenous group. In addition, the cultural groups are also internally heterogeneous. Since the understanding of health and illness can be culturally influenced and can have an impact on health behaviour and treatment decisions, dealing with patients from a migrant background presents special challenges for the doctor–patient relationship, but also for the healthcare system as a whole. In addition to language barriers, culturally specific values must be taken into account in their heterogeneity. This directly affects medical and social ethical issues. Providing medical care to people who do not have a valid residence permit or are not insured due to social hardship is a further challenge.