Spanish Gov Tells Natives Migrants Are Healthier Than Them
Spain's socialist government released a study claiming migrants use healthcare services less than native Spaniards and have lower rates of chronic illness, contradicting concerns about immigration straining infrastructure.
Spanish Health Minister Mónica García presented the findings on Monday, asserting that foreign-born residents in Spain utilize healthcare services, prescription medications, and hospital resources at significantly lower rates than the native-born population, according to Breitbart News. The study further claims that migrants exhibit lower rates of chronic illness compared to Spaniards, who are characterized in the document as making more intensive use of their own country’s medical resources.
The report, entitled “Health Status and Use of the Healthcare System Among the Migrant Population in Spain,” was unveiled by García at an official presentation. The socialist administration of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez promoted the study as confirmation of the so-called “Healthy Immigrant Effect” theory, which posits that migrants maintain inherent health advantages over native populations.
During her presentation remarks, García argued that the study undermines prevailing narratives about migration straining Spain’s healthcare infrastructure. In a social media post, the minister declared We dismantle the narrative of hate with data and asserted that universal healthcare access not only serves justice but also reduces costs for the medical system.
García stated on Monday that migrants use healthcare services less frequently than native Spaniards across virtually all levels of care. She claimed native-born citizens schedule more primary care visits, undergo more medical procedures, consume greater quantities of medications, and suffer higher rates of chronic diseases.
The Health Minister further contended that healthcare system strain stems not from immigration but from insufficient investment, budget reductions, and privatization efforts. She characterized these factors as the genuine threats to Spain’s medical infrastructure, dismissing concerns about migrant populations.
García added that Spain’s forthcoming challenge involves addressing demographic shifts, including population aging and rising numbers of patients with multiple chronic conditions, while avoiding what she termed racist and xenophobic perspectives.
According to the Spanish Health Ministry, researchers examined 21 specific medical conditions identified as generating the highest demands and expenses within the national healthcare system. The ministry compared native-born Spaniards against migrants using the six-region classification framework employed by the World Health Organization.
Ministry officials reported that native Spaniards demonstrated higher prevalence rates in 16 of the 21 conditions studied. The data allegedly shows Spaniards exhibiting approximately 20 percent higher rates of anxiety disorders, lipid metabolism disorders, acute upper respiratory tract infections, and asthma compared to migrant populations.
Despite asserting migrants’ health advantages, the Health Ministry acknowledged that foreign-born residents’ health conditions tend to deteriorate during extended residence in Spain. The institution attributed this decline to unequal access to adequate housing and nutritious food, alongside more precarious employment conditions and sustained exposure to risk factors within Spanish society.
With information from Breitbart News
