ABSTRACT
The crudest version of interculturality refers to non-nationals of the different member states. Health differences due to natural biological variations are usually considered as inevitable rather than inequitable. The usual approach is to operationalize ‘changing life-styles’ in terms of measures and indicators of a number of separate behavioural items. However, the concentration on single behavioural patterns or health habits is dangerous in isolation. One possible explanation for the reproduction of health inequalities between areas over time is the migration of ‘fitter’ / healthier people from deprived areas. The treatment of immigrants by health care services depends both upon their position, role and status within the community at large and upon the knowledge and training of health care workers in particular. There are clear inescapable inequalities in both achieved health and access to health care, as between the immigrant and the indigenous populations in Europe.
