Consequences of the stress of discrimination
According to Pharos researcher Tessa van Loenen, one of the consequences of discrimination in healthcare is that it makes people even sicker. “The stress that discrimination produces can cause additional physical complaints such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and elevated blood pressure. This makes care even sicker.”
Baldewsingh responds: “The signals I get about this are that people with a migration background are starting to avoid healthcare. That is very disturbing. That not only means that they do not receive the care they should receive, but also that they run the risk of long-term illness or death.”
The coordinator is working on a national program – a longer-term plan with annual actions to combat discrimination and racism – which he will present to the cabinet around this summer. In the plan, he wants to put the theme of discrimination in healthcare high on the agenda.
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