Accessibility and health services use in old age–a comparison between Jews and Arabs in Israel

Abstract

Accessibility to high quality health services constitutes an important factor in the health of a person. Minority groups have more economic and technological barriers to accessible health services and accordingly are more restricted in their use.2 Over the years, data show that improved accessibility of low socio-economic population to health services has helped to reduce inequalities in health, and as a result, also to reduce death rates.3 Barriers to accessibility may be caused by factors within the health system (the supplier), such as gaps in population coverage or insurance coverage; insufficient coverage of the health basket; geographical barriers such as distance from services; organizational barriers that are liable to include waiting lists and working hours of the organization; the lack or absence of coordinated information; or the difference in cultural backgrounds between caregivers and patients. The barriers may also be due to factors associated with the patient (the consumer), such as type of treatment and its adaptation to the patient; income; age; ethnic and cultural background; medical history.2