Accessibility and Use of Health Care Services in the British Asian Community

British Asians make up 3% of the population. There is evidencethat Asians have difficulty obtaining good quality health care,appropriate to their needs. This article examines some of thisevidence, with examples of specific communities in Britain.In the past, specific health education programmes for Asianshave targeted their ‘special’ needs such as rickets,tuberculosis and thalassaemia. In fact the population itselfperceives its needs differently-improved communication, easieraccess to services, and more information on asthma, diabetes,ischaemic heart disease and skin disorders. It is importantto appreciate that the ‘Asian’ community is madeup of disparate groups with widely differing needs and expectations,and that each community should be considered by health serviceplanners as unique within the context of the health authoritywithin which they lie. Reasons for the mismatch between needand service provision are discussed in the light of the recentreforms in the National Health Service and recommendations forchange are given.