Mapping data on access to and use of medicines among migrants in Belgium
1
Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Migrants are underrepresented in health research in many European countries, including Belgium, which is concerning. The World Health Organization (WHO) developed a comprehensive framework aimed at guiding research on migration and health within the WHO European Region. This study supports evidence-based policymaking among European member states by providing a foundational structure for examining various strategies and methodologies. The aim of our study is to map available sources of data about access to and use of medicines among migrant populations, and test if and under which conditions they can be used in research, by taking the case of Flanders, Belgium.".
METHODS:
We conducted a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with key informants. Key areas of inquiry included the key ethical, legal, and research feasibility/applicability challenges and aspects related to accessing and using datasets on medicine use among migrants in Belgium. We performed thematic content analyses to analyse the interviews Transcripts. We adapted inductive approach in our analyses, allowing codes, categories, and themes to be identified directly from the data.
RESULTS:
A total number of 16 interviews were conducted. People interviewed included researchers, pharmacists, general practitioners, data analysts and people working for organisations with access to health data.
CONCLUSIONS:
No final conclusions can be presented at this time. The research is still in progress and conclusions will be formulated in a later stage.
Migrants are underrepresented in health research in many European countries, including Belgium, which is concerning. The World Health Organization (WHO) developed a comprehensive framework aimed at guiding research on migration and health within the WHO European Region. This study supports evidence-based policymaking among European member states by providing a foundational structure for examining various strategies and methodologies. The aim of our study is to map available sources of data about access to and use of medicines among migrant populations, and test if and under which conditions they can be used in research, by taking the case of Flanders, Belgium.".
METHODS:
We conducted a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with key informants. Key areas of inquiry included the key ethical, legal, and research feasibility/applicability challenges and aspects related to accessing and using datasets on medicine use among migrants in Belgium. We performed thematic content analyses to analyse the interviews Transcripts. We adapted inductive approach in our analyses, allowing codes, categories, and themes to be identified directly from the data.
RESULTS:
A total number of 16 interviews were conducted. People interviewed included researchers, pharmacists, general practitioners, data analysts and people working for organisations with access to health data.
CONCLUSIONS:
No final conclusions can be presented at this time. The research is still in progress and conclusions will be formulated in a later stage.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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